A Retrospective:
Jacques Terzian, Founder of "The Point" Artist Colony
On May 15, we will honor Jacques Terzian, 89, who founded the largest artist colony in the world at the Hunter's Point Shipyard in San Francisco. The Bayview Opera House has installed a retrospective exhibit of Jacques' work and artwork of his friends, Stephen Namara and JoeSam. There will be speeches and awards, refreshments, and an auction of Jacques' last 5 sculptures to benefit the Bayview Opera House's "Dare to Dream Youth Arts Program."
As part of the day's program, Shipyard Trust for the Arts (STAR) will also recognize those who worked hard years to keep artists and small businesses on the shipyard, including previous STAR Board Members Linda Hope, Scott Madison, Ian Green. We will also acknowledge Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, whose support has been crucial to us many times in the past.
Some History:
Jacques Terzian is an artist and businessman who in 1984 rented unused buildings at the decommissioned Shipyard to sublet them to artists at affordable prices. Then already in his 60's, he crawled under dilapidated buildings, replaced rusted water lines, tore out the crumbling asbestos and built partitions for art studios, assisted by his son David Terzian, who now runs the business. As you know, the Hunters Point Shipyard art colony has grown to over 300 artists, along with a few musicians and small businesses
Artists were threatened with eviction more than once, starting with the Navy's intention to homeport the USS Missouri here in 1987. Several artists and small business people formed a loose organization that organized resistance and garnered the support of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, among others, to keep the artists in their studios. Eventually, STAR (Shipyard Trust for the Arts) was founded in 1995 to secure the future of an arts district at the shipyard and replacement studio space for all artists who will be displaced by buildings torn down as part of the Hunters Point Shipyard Redevelopment Project.
Please join us in honoring these people and how far we have have come over the past 30+ years. The event will be attended by many past and present tenants of the Shipyard so it will be a good opportunity to visit with friends and acquaintances,as well as to pay tribute to Jacques.
We hope you will join us. The event is free, but please RSVP online to terzian.eventbrite.com/ so the organizers will have an idea of numbers in attendance.
EVENT DETAILS:
Sunday, May 15, 2 - 5 pm
Bayview Opera House
4705 Third Street
(between Newcomb & Oakdale)
San Francisco, CA 94124
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