Terry Toedtemeier, Photographer & Museum Curator passes away
Dec 11th, 2008 by Brad
Terry Toedtemeier
Very sad day. I just heard that Terry Toedtemeier, Portland Art Museum’s curator of photography, has passed away. He was a great man, warm person, sharp intellect, and a fine curator. Very sad indeed.
Terry just published the book “Wild Beauty: Photographs of the Columbia River Gorge, 1867-1957” (134 photographs) associated with show at the Portland Art Museum that he curated. In fact, last night he was speaking about the show “Wild Beauty” in Hood River, Oregon. He passed away after this talk.
Terry was also a wonderful photographer. I enjoyed seeing Terry’s shows PDX Contemporary and it always delightful to talk with him about art and photography. Terry’s shows at PDX Contemporary included, “Hawaii to the Owyhee: A Bird’s Eye View” (March ’07) and “Places, Pieces, and Hidden Histories” (Jan ’05).
Terry co-founded Portland’s Blue Sky Photography Gallery and taught art and art history at Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland for 17 years. Here is an article on Terry Toedtemeier’s contribution to Portland Art Photography: http://www.theartcounselor.com/dsnider/wordpress/?p=42
Oregon Public Broadcasting’s (OPB) show “Think Out Loud” has posted a podcast of their interview with Terry and co-author John Laursen about the book and the show : http://stream1.opb.org/media/tol/episodes/2008/1003.mp3.
Portland Art Museum wrote this about the show, “Terry Toedtemeier, the Museum’s Curator of Photography, has long been passionate about photographs of the Columbia River Gorge. In October 2008, the Museum will highlight 90 years of photography of this historic transportation corridor, including important works by famed photographer Carleton Watkins. Wild Beauty: Photographs of the Columbia River Gorge 1867 – 1957 will feature approximately 200 images chronicling the changing character of the Gorge from the early settlers to the introduction of hydroelectric dams.”
The first time I had a long conversation with Terry was at Photolucida 2005. He was a portfolio reviewer. I was shy about my new work and I almost didn’t sign up to talk to him, I’ve very glad I did. When I showed him my work, he offered wonderful advice, great insights, and strong encouragement. In 2008 at the “Keep Portland Weird Art” Show in Portland City Hall, Terry really enjoyed one of my images “Day Amalgam 8” and considered taking it to the Portland Art Museum’s photography acquisition committee.
Terry when asked How would I describe a Northwest school of photography?, he said “There is none. There’s just an intense love of making photographs.”
I will miss him.
My thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Terry was one of the finest people I had the honor of calling a friend. In the last day and a half I have seen such an outpouring from friends, colleagues and just folks who had met him, and while his passing saddens me a great deal, I am comforted by the fact that he will always be remembered. I still miss my friend though…..