Meet our fabulous Facility Manager @terrancegraven at our Film & Photo Studio SF!
Since 1992, I have worked as an art director, set builder, prop master, stylist, model maker, and fabricator in the film, television, theater, and advertising industries. Experiences in each of these roles have given me proficiency in a variety of skill sets, including an aptitude for working with most power tools and machinery. I also pride myself on being organized, self-reliant, and focused, which enables me to handle the pressure of deadlines and to see a project through to completion with minimal supervision. One of my favorite discoveries throughout my career was working on stop-motion animation projects. The creative challenges of this type of work captured my interest and inspired me to specialize in building miniatures.
As an instructor at San Francisco State University in the Cinema Department, I enjoyed drawing from my career background to teach Production Design and Art Direction. Additionally, I teach painting, drawing, collage, and sculpting. I’ve also lectured at Stanford University, U.C. Berkeley, Douglas and Sturgess, Jon Sims Center for the Arts, Yugen Theater, Harvey Milk Institute, and the de Young Museum.
As a creative artist, my installations combine sculptural elements, performance art, costumes, sound, photography, and theatrical lighting. One favorite theme I explore in these installations is the body’s fragility and the frailty of life. This committed exploration can be an apprehensive dive into the shadow of my psyche, but it is also the backbone of my artistic process. I don’t shy away from what lurks in the dark. I don’t seek to appease or comfort with my art. My inspiration compels me to agitate and illuminate concepts and ideas that are usually avoided or unexplored.
My installations have been exhibited at various places, such as David Cunningham Projects Gallery, San Francisco MOMA, De Young Museum, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 111 Minna, Shoshana Wayne Gallery, and the International Performance Art Festival.
I consider myself a connoisseur (some might say a masochist) of bad cinema - movies that are so bad, they’re good.
Please feel free to stop by our San Francisco Bay Area Film & Photo Studio today to meet our team!