Written by Jen Burak https://themeafordindependent.ca/meaford-artist-rocks-the-toronto-outdoor-art-fair/
Meaford artist Suzette Terry knocked it out of the park at the 61st annual Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, held at the City Hall’s Nathan Philips Square from July 15 – 17. After a two-year festival drought, folks were out in droves, basking in the sunshine, meeting the artists and shopping for original creations.
Suzette’s booth was a cacophony of colour; hundreds of people stopped by to bask in the glow of her vibrant landscape paintings.
Her art had a broad, cross-cultural appeal, touching folks from all walks of life. Young kids dragged in their parents, old women from across the globe in colourful floppy hats stopped to appreciate, gaggles of excited young teens were awestruck, and serious couples searching for that special painting all visited Suzette’s tent gallery. It was a wild ride to be sure.
Her paintings featured the iconic rocks and pines of Killarney and superb collaged winter scenes from our very own Trout Hollow Trail along the Big Head River. “These imagined landscapes are inspired by real places,” explained Terry. An homage to the Group of Seven, Norval Morrisseau, Emily Carr, and Picasso, her paintings move the viewer and are embedded with Suzette’s joyous spirit. She puts a modern, interpretive spin on the familiar Ontario landscapes that we all know and love.
Long time city residents, out of towners, and recent immigrants all gravitated to the colourful paintings. One woman from India very matter of factly explained that there is a lot of colour in her country and that is why she was drawn to Suzette’s canvases.
Needless to say, there were many beautiful smiles to be seen by those viewing the work. Clearly the isolation of the two ‘Covid years’ impacted people, and the relief at being out, publically viewing art in a festival atmosphere was palpable – “We need this,” said one elderly woman dressed in purple, “It’s food for the soul.”
Art students, collectors, and appreciators of all shapes and sizes had the chance to chat with Suzette, whose engaging smile and passion for painting captured people immediately. All visitors to booth C216 wanted to know where she hailed from, so naturally the town of Meaford was mentioned multiple times!
During the weekend event, it was predicted that about 100,000 people came through the show to enjoy sculpture, textile art, painting, ceramics, photography, glass work, and jewellery. About 1,000 artist applicants vied for the coveted booth spaces and 400 were awarded. Meaford should be very proud to have such an accomplished painter and ambassador in town; she represented us with imagination and flair.
When you check out Suzette’s art at: www.suzette-terry.com get ready for a blast of colour to brighten your day!
Submitted by By Jen Burak
AS SEEN IN 365 MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021
Representation
Arts on Queen, Toronto https://www.facebook.com/artsonqueen
Craig Gallery, Meaford https://craiggallery.ca/artists/suzette-terry/
Karger Gallery - Elora https://karger.ca/collections/suzette-terry/
Marten Arts, Bayfield
Partial Gallery https://suzetteterry.partial.gallery
Solo Exhibitions
2019 Vantage Point, Gallery in the Grove, Brights Grove, Sarnia
2018 At Home and Abroad, Meaford Hall, Meaford
2016 Full Circle, Press Room Gallery, Simcoe St., Collingwood
2014 Back to the Beach, River Road Gallery, Grand Bend, July
2014 "Renewal" Owen Sound Artist's Co-Op, 279 10th St E, Owen Sound, May
2013 "Life's A Beach" with Teresa Maria, River Road Gallery, Grand Bend
2010 Undercurrents - U Framing and Art Centre, 188 Kent St. London
2009 Evolution to the power of Two, joint show with Susan Tanton, Arts Project, London
2007 Snakes & Ladders, Talbot Centre, London
2007 Body Works, Gallery Lambton, Sarnia
2005 From the Shoreline - Gallery Lambton, Sarnia
2004 Departure Point - St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre, St. Thomas
Juried Exhibitions
2023 Square Foot Show - Paula White Diamond Art Gallery
2023 Sqaure Foot Show - Loft Gallery, Thornbury
2023 Square Foot Show - Westland Gallery
2023 Contemporary Christmas - Reimagine the Season - Art Gallery of Lambeth
2023 Abstract Show, Craig Gallery, Meaford
2021 Autumn Artisan Market - ONLINE- McMicheal Canadian Art Gallery
2021 Online, 2022 In Person, Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto
2017 Animal Love, BMFA Arts Centre, Collingwood
2017 Let's Play, Quest Art School & Gallery, Midland Cultural Centre, Midland
2017 Belle Fleur Show, BMFA Arts Centre, Collingwood
2014, 2017,2018, BMFA Juried Art Show, BMFA Arts Centre, Hurontonio Street, Collingwood
2014 Meaford Creative Arts Association Juried Show, 3rd Prize, Meaford Hall
2012, 13 Art Cetera, Elora Art Centre, Elora
2002-10, 12, 13 Paint Ontario- Lambton Heritage Museum, Grand Bend
2008-09,11,12 Visual Elements, 50th Annual Juried Exhibition, Woodstock Art Gallery
2012 Square Foot Show, Art Exchange, Wortley Village, London
2004-06, 09, 11 Visual Fringe Exhibit - The Arts Project, London
2007 Arte Novello, Quai du Vin Estate Winery, 1st Prize
2005 Interplay-Sports and Art, - Arts Project, London
2003-12 Port Stanley Artist's Guild, Juror's Choice
2003-04 Look - Gallery Lambton, Sarnia
2001 Art in the Heart of London - St. Paul's Cathedral, London
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 Miniature Show & Sale, Gallery Three, St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre
2023 Red Show - Windjammer Inn, Port Stanley
2022, 2024,2025 - Magnetic North - Double Door Gallery, Anten Mills
2019 32 Points-32 Voices: A Compass of Peace, International Exhibition, Cedar Ridge Creative Centre, Toronto
2018 Georgian Bay- Killarney to Tobermory Plein Air, BMFA, Press Room Gallery, Collingwood
2016 Driven to Abstraction, Press Room Gallery, Collingwood
2014 Driven To Abstraction, Arts Project, London, September
2014 "Figures", Matilda Swanson Gallery, August
2014 Group Drawing Exhibition, Sante Fe Gallery, Owen Sound, November
2014 Driven to Abstraction, Group Show, Arts Project, London, September
2014 BMFA Group Show, BMFA Art Centre, Collingwood
2013 BMFA Christmas Group Show, Collingwood Public Library
2013 Group Exhibition featuring Francis Caprani, Doug Dolman, Alice Teichert and Suzette Terry, Thielsen Gallery, London
2012 Sideroads, Williams Mill Gallery, Glen Williams
2012 Minature Art Show, Art Gallery of Lambeth
2011 Invitational Art Show, Portside Gallery, Port Stanley
2010 Holiday Art Show and Sale, Susan Kristjansson Gallery, Sarnia
2010 Christmas & Summer Exhibition, Gallery Artists, Thielsen Gallery, London
2010 Geometric Forms and Abstract Images, Selections from the Permenant Collection, STEPAC
2010 Variations in Abstract, Thielsen Gallery at Maggies of London
2009 40th Anniversary Show, Selections from the Permenant Collection, STEPAC
2007 Summer Group Show, Thielsen Gallery, London
2007-10 Summer Group Show, Thielsen Gallery at Maggie's of London
2006 Variations in Abstract, Thielsen Gallery at Maggie's of London
2006 Celebrating the Power of Women - Shutter & Brush Gallery & St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre
2003-06 Spring Exhibition - Cannington House Gallery, Oakville
2005-07 Views from the Permanent Collection - St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre, St. Thomas
2004 Deca-Dance - Williams Mill Gallery, Glen Williams
2002 Art Mart - Museum London
2002 Elemental Landscapes - Spirit of Place Collective, Barber Gallery, Guelph
2001 A Grand River Journey - Spirit of Place Collective, Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant, Brantford
2001 By Water... By Trail - Spirit of Place Collective, Dufferin County Museum & Archives, Rosemont
2001 By Water... By Trail - Spirit of Place Collective, Harriston Public Library and Gallery, Harriston
2000 By Water... By Trail - Spirit of Place Collective, Guelph Civic Museum, Guelph
2000 Water's Edge - Spirit of Place Collective, Eldon Gallery, Waterloo
Education
2024, 2018, 2019 Art2Life - Creative Visionary Program
2023 Tim Paker Art Education
2023 Robert Szot: A WORK IN PROGRESS: WORK ON PAPER - FALL SESSION
2022 Jenny Nelson- Exploring Abstraction
2022 2023 Artify, Floral Abstracts, Layering, Composition, Colour
2021 Chris Mitchell- Artist Coaching Accelerator
2020 Melinda Cootsona - Abstracting the figure
2021-22 Professional Artist.com
2015 The Royal Conservatory, Artist-Educator Foundations Course
1990 Honours Degree, University of Guelph, Major Fine Art, Minor Business Administration
Teaching
2019-23 Southampton Arts Centre, Adult classes and Children's Summer Camps
2018-19, 2023 Maxwell Public School - One Day Art Camp
2017-19 Grand Bend Art Centre, Kids Summer Art Camp 2nd week July
2017-18 Paint Jam, Pinedale Motor Inn, April & May
2016-19 Paint Jam, Meaford Hall Sept to May.
2016-19 Private Paint Jam Parties
2014 Collage, Grand Bend Art Centre, July 19th
2014 Still Life, Grand Bend Art Centre
2013 Creative Drawing and Photo Transfer, Grand Bend Art Centre
2009 Abstraction and the Principles of Design, Grand Bend School of Art
2009 Collage – and Photo Transfer, Grand Bend School of Art
2008 Celebrate the Power of You, Grand Bend School of Art, photo transfer and painting techniques
2008 Plug into Your Creativity, Grand Bend School of Art, drawing techniques
2007 March Break Session – Photo Transfer for Children
2006 Celebrating the Power of Women, St. Thomas YWCA, facilitator,
2006 Photo Transfer, Professional Development Day Thames Valley District School Board, STEPAC
2006 Photomontage, St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre, STEPAC
2005-2006 Elementary Expression -Children’s Art class, STEPAC
2004 Collage – A New Way of Seeing, PD Day Thames Valley District School Board, STEPAC
Lectures
2014 Progression & Development, Lambeth Paint and Pallet Club
2012 Working in Various Mediums, Port Stanely Artist Guild
2007 Body Works, Gallery Lambton, Sarnia
2007 Dry point, Port Stanley Artist’s Guild
2007 Progression, Lambeth Art Association
2006 Contact Printing along with Debra Kubu, Port Stanley Artist’s Guild
1998 Icons & Relics - Robert Langen Gallery, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo
Professional Studios
2007-2008 William Street Gallery, Port Stanley
2001, 2003-4 Studio Suzette, Port Stanley
1996-1999 Mill Run Studio -Glen Williams Mill Creative Art Studios
1992-1996 Hayes Ave Studio, Guelph
1994-1997 Carriage House Studio, Fergus
1992-1994 Wroe Gallery, Artist Co-operative,
Outdoor Juried Shows
2024 CabbageTown Arts & Crafts Sale, Riverdale Park, Toronto
2024 Railway City Arts & Music Festival, St. Thomas, Pinafore Park
2023,24 Oakville Art in the Park
2021, 2022 Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
1996, 97, 2013 Art in the Park, Elgin Park, Uxbridge
2013 Kempenfest - Huronia Festival of Arts and Crafts, Barrie
2012, 13, Art in the Yard, Elora Art Centre
2013 Fairy Lake Artisans Festival, New Market
1997,98, 2013 Artistry by the Lake, 2nd Prize 97-98, Queen's Royal Park, NOTL
2013 Fine Art and Craft Festival, Burlington Art Centre, Burlington
2012 Toronto Outdoor Exhibition
1998-2005 Windsor Art in the Park, Willistead Park, Windsor
1998-2002 CabbageTown Arts & Crafts Sale, Riverdale Park, Cabbagetown
2002 Art by the River, Fort Malden, Amherstburgh
2002 Art in the Park, Markham Museum, Markham
Grants and Awards
2009 Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant
2004 Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant
2001 Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant
1990 Dean's Honors List, University of Guelph
1989 Gordon Couling Scholarship, Guelph Creative Arts Association
Collections
Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario
Wellington County Museum, Aboyne, Ontario
St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre, St. Thomas, Ontario
Private collections in Canada, United States, England, Australia, China
Reviews
2021, Arts 365 Magazine
Sept 2008 "Profile: Suzette Terry", Beth Stewart, Artscape, pg. 8
2008, "Local Artist: Suzette Terry", Elgin County & St. Thomas Studio Tour, Home Magazine, pg. 29
2007/02/24 "Interpreting the female form", Lindsey Coad, The Observer, Sarnia pg. C10
2007/01/18 "The Theilsen Gallery comes to Maggies" Sara Buechner, Scene Magazine, Pg. 25
2006/4/17 Elgin on Exhibit, Kathy Rumleski, London Free Press, pg. D1.
2003/5/09 Artworks spring into the season, Elaine Hujer, Hamilton Spectator, pg. N3.
1995/07 The Female Figure - Country Roads, Around Ontario with Global Television's Terry Culbert, pg. 39.
1993/10/31, 93/11/1, 96/6/12, Global TV - Television interview with Terry Culbert