Greater Moncton Metropolitan Area
Terry Graff is a visual artist, curator, art educator, and art writer with extensive experience as a gallery director. Born in Cambridge (Galt), Ontario, he has been the recipient of major sculpture commissions, and his art has toured regionally, nationally, and internationally and is included in public and private collections. He has curated over 200 exhibitions, written an extensive number of articles, catalogues, and books on a wide range of contemporary and historical artists and art subjects, and has conducted numerous lectures and workshops. Graff has received several awards in recognition of his various cultural contributions across Canada, including the Fanshawe College Distinguished Alumni Award; The Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan (Official Honour of the Crown recognizing individuals who have made a significant contribution to the Province of Saskatchewan); the Christina Sabat Award for Art Criticism in Atlantic Canada sponsored by the Sheila Hugh MacKay Foundation; and two eagle feathers from the Mi’kmaq First Nation for his work in promoting the art of aboriginal artists. A tireless advocate for the centrality of art in people’s lives and as an essential ingredient for the health and well-being of communities, he has served as Chairman of several boards, including ArtsAtlantic Magazine, the Friends of the Mi’kmaq, and the Museums Association of Saskatchewan, and has served as a board member of New Brunswick's artist-run centres Struts Gallery and Gallery Connexion. Curatorial projects include “Masterworks from the Beaverbrook Art Gallery,” a large-scale international touring exhibition and major publication highlighting seventy-five of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery’s most prestigious works of art; "Off the Grid: Abstract Painting in New Brunswick", a ground-breaking statement on the nature and meaning of non-representational painting in the province of New Brunswick; and "Don Bonham RCA: Stranger in a Familiar Land".
Comprising mixed media drawings, collages, paintings, sculpture, assemblages, and multi-media installations, the evocative “Eco-Deco” works of Terry Graff constitute a distinctive vision in contemporary visual art. The alchemical transformation that occurs through recombination of cast-off detritus from our consumerist, technological society provides him with a potent means for exploring our dual character as part of nature yet transformed by technology. As early as 1975, he began fusing images of birds with machinery, which eventually evolved in the 1980s and 1990s into robotic duck decoys and mechanical simulations of wetland environments and other ecological systems. Along with references to old-fashioned shooting galleries and pinball machines, Graff’s futuristic aviaries often include quirky visual source material from his childhood encoded or embedded with cultural constructions of nature. In the process of becoming modified or transformed for survival in a post-apocalyptic world, Graff’s mutant birds are at once humorous and horrific. His recent series of “Warbirds" combine birds with war machinery and combat weaponry in a dark comedy of nature fighting back.
Billie: Undercurrents in Atlantic Canadian Visual Culture -- "Winner of 2 Redgee Awards for Design" Taking its name from the late Marion McCain, whose lifelong nickname was “Billie,” this vital award-winning visual arts journal explores what is below the surface of contemporary art in Atlantic Canada and the diverse and complex narratives flowing from the region’s particular histories, peoples and landscape. “Bravo, Terry!! You have, through the essence of this thoughtful piece of writing, perfectly articulated the purpose and value of Billie!!!!” – Carol Collicutt Hamilton “Bravo Terry - you are amazing, gracious and a true advocate for the arts.” – Ingrid Mueller “It is such an honour for my artwork to be featured in Billie. . . I want to express gratitude to all involved in this publication. It is deeply important to have a critical discourse about professional art in the province.” – Deanna Musgrave “I am very pleased with Stephanie Buhmann’s piece in the new Billie magazine, and overall, this is a fantastic issue, don't you think? Probably the best yet!! So many good articles.” – Janice Wright Cheney "The depth is profound Terry, thank you for bringing these issues to light again for me. Look forward to Billie." – Elma McKay
After resolution of a decade-long dispute with the Beaverbrook Foundations, Terry Graff led the Beaverbrook Art Gallery into an exciting new phase characterized by major growth and change, which included an increase in both operating budget and staff resources, and the initiation of new and expanded programming that greatly enhanced community engagement. He curated the monumental and highly acclaimed exhibition “Masterworks from the Beaverbrook Art Gallery”, which toured North America, and initiated the critic-in-residence program and the award-winning visual arts journal “Billie: Undercurrents in Atlantic Canadian Visual Culture”. Under his visionary leadership, the Gallery was officially designated as one of five “key cultural institutions” in New Brunswick’s cultural policy; undertook and completed extensive renovations to the existing building; initiated a capital campaign; broke ground and realized a major expansion project; dramatically expanded the permanent collection; and championed pride and confidence in the quality and diversity of New Brunswick’s visual culture. Allison McCain, Chairman of the Board, described Graff as a passionate advocate for the Gallery and a highly qualified leader with a national reputation. “His strong creative energy and passion for the visual arts, impressive track record in museum management, and knowledge of every aspect of the Gallery’s operations, make him a perfect match for taking the gallery to the next stage in its evolution.”
Terry Graff was recruited by the Beaverbrook Art Gallery as part of its succession plan to ensure continuity, creative growth, and long-term viability as the “art gallery of New Brunswick”. Over the past four years, he has championed New Brunswick artists, curating numerous exhibitions and producing critical publications of their work, such as Hot Pop Soup: Neo-Pop Trends in Contemporary New Brunswick Art; Marie Hélène Allain: The Numinosity of Stone; Nekt wikuhpon ehpit (Once there lived a woman): The Painting, Poetry and Politics of Shirley Bear; Catherine Hale: Between the Spirit and the Dust; Glitter and Gloom: The Sketchbooks of Herzl Kashetsky; Wolastoq (Beautiful River); Ekpahak (Where the Tide Ends); Kim Vose Jones: A Farewell to Flesh; Invisible Worlds: Toby Graser, Suzanne Hill, Kathy Hooper; Greg Klassen: “Who?”; Insecte: Eveline Gallant-Fournier, Elisabeth Hubault, Vicky Lentz, Christian Michaud; Cellar: Janice Wright Cheney; and more. He also curated numerous exhibitions of the work of major national and international artists, such as the major retrospective "Don Bonham RCA: Stranger in a Familiar Land". In addition, he assisted in overseeing the completion of Phase 1 of the Gallery’s Revitalization Project, which included the creation of the Gallery’s lower level “bunker” space for contemporary art, along with many long overdue retrofits.
Terry Graff played a leadership role in all aspects of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery’s operation. Highlights include the establishment of the 50th Anniversary Legacy Collection; organization of the national/international touring exhibition Masterworks from the Beaverbrook Art Gallery; and organization of major retrospective exhibitions of the work of several prominent contemporary artists, including the American sculptor Don Bonham. "I congratulate and commend Terry Graff on his impressive initiative on behalf of contemporary Canadian artists. I know of few if any other Canadian galleries, including the National Gallery, that have undertaken such a thoughtful program." Eli Bornstein, Visual Artist, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan "Terry Graff is very creative, well-spoken, intelligent, curious, and he very much respects the creative process. Working as an artist only deepens Graff’s understanding of the artistic process. It’s a real advantage." Tom Smart, curator "All the shows were terrific. . . . I read Terry`s essay in the Marie Hélène Allain catalogue on the plane going home on Sunday. It was super – and very appropriate for me as I am just finishing up a book on Canadian sculpture and of course she is mentioned." Joyce Millar, Director, Stewart Hall Art Gallery, Pointe-Claire, Quebec "Graff is doing what he does best, making links and linking audiences to our cultural, sociological and geographical history while showing people the work of contemporary artists who are speaking out about what is going on around us today." Karen Ruet, Art Writer, Fredericton, New Brunswick
"Over the past eighteen years I have worked with five Executive Directors and for a time, I believe on no fewer than four occasions, have worked with an Acting Director. As a fundraiser, past board member and current Foundation member I’ve not worked with any previous Director or Acting Director that has been nearly as committed to the goals or objectives of the Mendel Art Gallery and its stakeholders…nor have I worked with any of those that have achieved such a significant level of success in regards to these stated objectives. I’ve not seen the staff of the Gallery so engaging, creating a most cordial environment … a vast improvement from the past. Further, Terry Graff has maintained close, personal relationships with both potential financial donors and collectors, collectors that have given him reason to believe that they are most likely to share by way of gifting relevant pieces of their collections. He has helped the members of the Foundation focus attention on matters of importance in the expression of the visual arts … acquisitions, exhibitions, presentation and promotion. His enthusiasm for these matters have given cause for our members to develop a higher level of interest in the Gallery and its functioning so as to coalesce as one, as it were, making us stronger in our purpose in the service of the community through art." P. Raymond Martineau, Chair, Mendel Art Gallery Foundation, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan "In my considered opinion of the past 45 years of Director's that have come and gone, "The Mendel" has had no other Director who had a greater selfless sense of devotion to that "Dream" and "Vision" that my grandfather held so close to his heart nearly a half century ago then Terry Graff. It is a great pity that my grandfather never lived to meet him." Chip Mitchell, Toronto, Ontario "The Mendel Board chose Terry Graff as Director for his ability to get things done." Joanne Paulson, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan