The region loses the irreplaceable Terry Toedtemeier
I just heard the news that Portland Art Museum photography curator Terry Toedtemeier died last night in Hood River, where he and co-writer John Laursen were signing copies of their magisterial Wild Beauty. No details as of yet. We’ll talk about Terry and his immeasurable contribution to the culture of our region later. For now, our deepest condolences to his partner, Prudence Roberts, and John and all of his friends and family. We just can’t believe it.
UPDATE: David Row was a whirlwind yesterday, making calls and collating information for his story on Terry on OregonLive (and The Oregonian this morning). It’s beautiful. David’ review of Wild Beauty, the ongoing Portland Art Museum exhibition, is also excellent, and Jeff Baker reviews the book written by Terry and John Laursen. Finally, David and Terry talked before Wild Beauty opened, and here’s the interview.
December 11th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Oh no! This is terrible news!! Terry was widely recognized as one of the region’s most important artists; winning the RACC Artists Fellowship Award in 2000 was just one of his many, many accolades and accomplishments.
December 11th, 2008 at 10:51 am
He was a terrific photographer, and his knowledge of the history of photography in Oregon was incredible. He had a specialist’s understanding of the geology of the Gorge, too. It’s very possible that no one, and I mean NO ONE, loved basalt quite the way Terry did! I enjoyed every minute I ever spent with him.
December 12th, 2008 at 7:10 am
We all will miss Terry very much, his work, his genius, his wonderful being. Many loving thoughts to Prudence.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Terry and Mary collaborated on Kinder Weather, a 2002 dance that featured Terry’s photographs as backdrops to Mary’s choreography.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Kinder Weather was stunning, a beautiful integration of visual art and dance, the marriage of truely creative minds. In that piece, basalt moved! Sad news, a big loss.
December 15th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I was so saddened to hear this upon returning from an out of town project on Saturday. What a gracious, wise and creative man.