Jacques Terzian
Jacques Terzian | |
|---|---|
| Born | Hagop Terzian August 31, 1921 Fresno, California, U.S. |
| Died | August 6, 2016 (aged 94) Walnut Creek, California, U.S. |
| Education | Parsons School of Design, University of California, Berkeley |
| Occupations | Sculptor, furniture designer, community leader, businessperson |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Banner (m. 1949–1970s; divorced) Sally Seymour Tatiana Troyanos |
| Children | 5 |
Jacques Terzian (né Hagop Terzian; 1921 – 2016) was an American sculptor, furniture designer, community leader, and businessperson in San Francisco.[1][2] He founded The Point, in Hunters Point Shipyard, which is one of the nations largest artists colonies.[1][3]
Early life, family and education
Jacques Terzian was born as Hagop Terzian on August 31, 1921, in Fresno, California.[1] His family was Armenian, his parents were immigrants.[1] He attended Fresno High School.[1] After high school he began working as a welder, and moved the San Francisco Bay Area in order to work at the shipyard.[1] He joined the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.[1]
Terzian attended Parsons School of Design in New York City;[4] and the University of California, Berkeley on the GI Bill.[1]
Early career
Terzia and Margaret Banner married in 1949, and together they had five children.[1] The family had lived in Palo Alto, and Terzian commuted by train to San Francisco.[1] He co-founded the design firm of Chambers and Terzian, on Battery Street; the front of the building was retail, and in the back was where he made his furniture.[1] Their marriage ended in divorce in the 1970s.[1]
Hunters Point art colony
In the early 1970s, he was forced out of his business space in a shared warehouse, due to the development of Levi's Plaza.[5] Terzian rented one of the decommissioned Hunters Point Naval Shipyard buildings in 1976 to use as his art studio.[6][7] He recruited other artist, and by 1983, an artist community had formed.[6] By 1984, Terzian got a sublease and formed "The Point", which grew to be the largest artist colony operating in the nation.[1] In the early 1980s, the Point started hosting open studios on the weekends, which included BBQs and live music.[1] Starting in 1985 and many years after, the US Navy started fighting over the lease with Terzian.[4][8]
Terzian founded Patterns Ltd., where he designed and built sculptural art from industrial and found materials, as well as custom furniture.[1][9]
In 2016, The Point still is considered large, with some 250 artists.[5]
Death and legacy
Terzian died at age 94 on August 6, 2016, in his home in Walnut Creek, California.[1][4] He was survived by his two sons and three daughters, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Whiting, Sam (August 13, 2016). "Jacques Terzian, founder of Hunters Point artist colony, dies". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ "In Their Words: Remembering Jacques Jacob Terzian, Founder Of Artist Community 'The Point'". Hoodline. August 17, 2016. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- ^ "Jacques Terzian, Obituary". The Mercury News. 2016-08-28. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- ^ a b c d Jones, Kevin L. (2016-08-16). "Remembering Jacques Terzian, Founder of Hunter's Point Artists' Colony". KQED. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- ^ a b "Jacques Terzian (1921–2016)". Artforum. August 18, 2016. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- ^ a b McLean, Tessa (August 28, 2024). "This SF relic hasn't had running water for 15 years, but residents won't leave". SFGate.
- ^ "Hunters Point Shipyard Artists Were Promised a New Building. They Got a Pile of Dirt Instead". The San Francisco Standard. 2022-01-23. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- ^ Morain, Dan (1987-07-12). "Artists, Navy Square Off in 'Battle of Mighty Mo'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- ^ "Jacques Terzian (In memoriam)". Hunters Point Shipyard Artists. Retrieved 2025-07-15.