Griffis Sculpture Park

Infobox Museum
name = Griffis Sculpture Park


imagesize = 250
established = 1966
location = 6902 Mill Valley Road East Otto, NY 14729
type =
visitors =
director = Simon Griffis
website = http://www.griffispark.org

Griffis Sculpture Park is a sculpture park located between Ashford Hollow and East Otto, New York in Cattaraugus County, New York. The convert|425|acre|km2|sing=on outdoor art museum, which was created by artist Larry W. Griffis Jr in 1966, was the first sculpture park in the United States. [Citation |url=http://artvoice.com/issues/v5n45/see_you_there/flash_party |title=See You There - Flash Party! |first=Geoff |last= Kelly ] It features more than 250 works of art created by over 100 artists, and also serves as a nature preserve, with convert|10|mi|km of trails. Griffis founded the Ashford Hollow Foundation for the Visual and Performing Arts to administer the park, which is currently headed by Simon Griffis, son of Larry Griffis. Other members of the Griffis family have also served on the AHF board of directors. [Citation |url=http://www.griffispark.org/ahf/?page_id=10 |title=Ashford Hollow Foundation: Griffis Family ]

The park draws 35,000 visitors a year. Admission is free, although a fee box is set up on the grounds requesting donations. The park is also supported by private donations and fund raisers.

History

The idea for an outdoor sculpture museum came to artist Larry Griffis while he was touring Italy with his family. While watching his children play on the ruins of Emperor Hadrian’s villa, Griffis realized the value of interactive art. As Simon Griffis recalls, his father said, "This is absolutely remarkable. Look at my kids. I've taken them to the finest museums and galleries but they've come alive in this environment where they can interact and they can smell the flowers and they can touch things." [Citation |url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/090604/art_LB0181-0.shtml |title=Outdoor sculpture parks blend art with nature |publisher=Augusta Chronicle |date=September 5, 2004 |first=Carolyn |last=Thompson ]

Upon returning to the United States, Larry Griffis looked at many possible sites for the park, but had a vision that included site-specific terrain. He required a combination of valleys, woods, lake and open space. Kissing Bridge Ski Resort and Lewiston’s Art Park were possible candidates for the vision, but were passed over by the artist.

In 1966, Griffis purchased convert|100|acre|km2 of Ashford Hollow in the Southern Tier of Western New York and placed 15 of his own convert|25|ft|m welded steel works on a hillside along a country road. The Ashford Hollow Foundation acquired another convert|325|acre|km2 and drummed up commissions for additional sculptures.

Art

More than 100 local, national and international artists have contributed to this park, although much of the art features members of the Griffis family. [Citation |url=http://www.dittwald.com/griffissculpture/ |year=2006 |title=Griffis Sculpture Park ] Other artist include Bolinski, Bellavia, Dwain, Gurst, Hatchett, Patterson, [Citation |url=http://www.sculpture.org/documents/parksdir/usa/eastcost.shtml |title=USA - East Coast |publisher=Sculpture.org ] Mehrdad Hadighi, [Citation |url=http://www.buffalo.edu/reporter/vol35/vol35n16/articles/HadighiAR.html |title=Hadighi's Studio for Architecture recognized by "Architectural Record" |first=Patricia|last=Donovan |publisher=University at Buffalo Reporter |date=December 18, 2003 |volume=35 |issue=16 ] and Lauren Scime. [Citation |url=http://laurenscime.com/resume.html |title=Lauren Scime's Resume and Bio ] The sculptures are cast in bronze, welded steel, aluminum and wood, and are arranged in twelve groups based on theme. These groups include various oversized animals and insects, or sets such as castles or submarines. [Citation |url=http://home.sbu.edu/bonaventure/99fall/19991022/features/sculpturepark.html |title=Griffis' sculptures complement natural surroundings |date=Oct. 22, 1999 |first=Kristin |last=Bowers |publisher=St. Bonaventure University ]

References

External links

* [http://www.griffispark.org/ Griffis Sculpture Park Home Page]