Back in 2006, Issue 17 of Rift Magazine came out with the cover art by Chris Allen. There also was a short interview with Allen in that issue where it talked about his reason for moving to Minnesota and digging into and thriving in our local art scene.
Allen did artwork for many local musicians including the cover for Desdemona’s groundbreaking album The Ledge.
Nine years later, Allen is working out of Montreal, working as a full-time tattoo artist. He is coming back to Minneapolis for a short stay to do some Tattoos and reconnect.
It is great to see artists who donated their time to give Rift a cover and see them thrive and do their craft full-time. As you can see from some of his Tattoo work and the original Rift cover, Allen has grown substantially into an artistic force of nature.
It was a pleasure to reconnect with him and see where his journey has taken him.
Rift: You came to Minneapolis in 1999 to get things together, and then you left to go to Montreal later on. Why did you decide to make Montreal your next destination?
Chris: I came to Minneapolis Summer of ’99, not necessarily by choice but by needing to get my life back… forever grateful it was the best decision I ever made for myself.
I was quickly dying of drug and alcohol addiction at the age of 21, and made my way to Minneapolis to go to treatment.
Since then, things have been turned 360 with a hell of lot of work, and understanding it has to be a daily gig for me. Montreal was a whole other story, but came here in a relationship and after that ended.. got insanely busy tattooing and putting my stamp down here best I could (and still am best I can) with my art. Montreal’s an amazing city with a hell of a lot of culture and life, and they feed the art just as much as the art feeds the city, which is really dope. Just don’t ask me to speak French yet.. Merci.
Rift: How do the art and music scenes compare between the two cities?
Chris: Man, that’s tough. I mean the art scene here is HUGE, period. One of the coolest things I noticed when coming to Montreal was almost more walls had murals on them, than not. It goes without saying that I was crazy spoiled with GOOD music, and having a lot of friends that make music and are insanely talented back in Mpls. That being said, there’s definitely a good music scene here, but being a Hip-Hop head my whole life… there aren’t many cities (besides maybe NYC or some overseas) where you can find the pool of good Hip-Hop shows weekly like you can in Minneapolis.
So they are comparable, but I’m turning people on to Minneapolis music left and right here as it’s always gonna be in my veins.. It IS really great to see how loved the arts are here though, and the slight differences in tattooing here vs. the states.
Rift: What are you up to, these days. It seemed like back when you did the Rift Cover you weren’t doing any or as many tattoos. Is that your main artistic endeavor right now or do you mix it up with other projects.
Chris: Busy for me these days is an understatement. (Got some friends here that wanna kick me in the face for being so busy, and can vouch for that) Back in Mpls, I was just getting busier and always remained busy with live painting shows (Whether at First Ave or the Triple Rock, etc..) but I started my apprenticeship around 2007 at Twilight Tattoo, (under the amazing Shane Wallin) and since then 100% of my time was dedicated to learning how to tattoo and go from there.
I can say I’ll always be grateful that even during my apprenticeship for tattooing, I lived off my artwork and didn’t get a part time job. I left Minneapolis College of Art & Design and told myself I had to put my head down and dedicate the next five years (at the time) to this new craft I wanted to learn in tattooing.
These days I’m most definitely tattooing full time, and doing commission walls (murals), paintings, and traveling to do all of it when I can and where I can… But YES, I pretty much think about tattoos 24/7 or at least what drawings I have to dig into for the next person.
Being an independent artist of any kind now and days is tough, but social media and word of mouth help ten fold. Definitely not on some ego shit here, but with how much effort I’ve put in and continue to… I’m not too patient with artists that want it all to come to them without putting in the time and dedication to their art. Really at the end of the day, nothing beats working your ass off to see the final result and I’ve learned a thousand times over that it’s all in the process now… not the destination. Cliche, but true as hell.
Rift: I was wondering if it is easier being an artist in Canada. Health care? etc…
Chris: Hmmm.. Health Care? Kiiiiind of. It’s tricky here, everyone made it seem like you come to Canada and you get healthcare for free. HELL NO. Apparently outside of Quebec, it’s way easier to get for free. Walk in clinics can be free depending on what you need, just plan your whole day to get to see someone. Now if you broke your leg, you’ll see someone fairly quickly and it comes out of your taxes of course… but yeah, no bill. So, it’s a balance like anywhere I suppose… just not the magical rainbow system we Americans make it out to be, just ask Montrealers. Ha!
I wouldn’t say it’s “easier” being an artist here, all I can say is like anywhere if there’s sweat put in… the people will eventually see the work. “That being said, one of the most valuable lessons in my work that I’ve learned in my career so far is that quality over quantity is always the best formula.. at least for me now.”
Rift: You still keep in touch with people here and come back from time to time. Have you seen changes in the art and music scene here?
Chris: Honestly, I get back as much as I can and with as much traveling as I do, it’s of course one of the dopest places to visit and see faces for me. I formed my roots there, and that’s never gonna change. I keep in touch as much as I can with friends and clients from there, and whenever I get back it’s like I never left. Actually gonna be back there to guest spot back at Twilight and enjoy some shenanigans in October here, so.. soon!
Rift: You seem to keep pretty busy, any ideas for big art projects or anything in particular your working on that your proud of?
Chris: I do stay busy, and I always keep thinking of the next big thing. Honestly right now (and I’ve waited a long time to say this..) my brand new site is gonna be up here in a week or so, and I couldn’t be more hyped on it! New projects, new web store, all of it. I’m proud of a lot of work I’ve been doing and made an effort this past Summer to really knock out some solid watercolor paintings, as well as some really dope side projects I can’t speak too much on now til’ they come to light. Let’s just say I’m really amped for when I CAN let it out of the vault! Also, really trying to find the time (there’s a way to squeeze 27 hours out of a day, right?.. no?..) to get my next solo gallery show together, maybe Minneapolis soon?..
Rift: If you had a piece of advice, to give about anything. What would it be?
Chris: I’m one of those people who realizes like 5 years after hearing a “saying” or “advice” why it makes so much sense. Be a good person, and in saying that I know it takes A LOT of responsibility.
I’m nowhere near perfect, but I know the person I want to and am trying my best to be in this world. My main advice would be, you have something to give your days and nights. You do, whether you believe it or not. My Father passing of lung cancer in 2010 taught me a hell of a lot, and one of those things is we really have to stop making mountains out of molehills in our daily lives. Some things deserve the attention, most don’t. Enjoy this ride while you’re here, you deserve it like the next person.
To me it’s all about finding what that is for yourself, and literally learning to love and respect it as you let it shine on your life. We already got enough people out there that want and expect a lot, without giving it back. Don’t be one of them, it’s not a good look. Also, travel as much as you can.. it’s a great teacher as long as you remain a student. Guess that goes for a hell of a lot of other things too. 🙂
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