
A native of Claiborne parish in North Louisiana, David Allen is one of the best-known walking stick carvers in the South. Although he didn't begin carving hickory sticks until he was an adult, he comes from a rich tradition of whittling and carving.
Mr. Allen has been featured at festivals across Louisiana, including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Louisiana Folklife Festival, and the Natchitoches/NSU Folk Festival. He has also appeared at the Festival of American Folklife in Washington D.C. He is a member of the Louisiana Hall of Master Folk Artists, and in 1984, served as a master craftsman in the Folklife Apprenticeship Program. He attends festivals with his wife, Rosie, an accomplished craftsperson as well.