Griffis Sculpture Park is a sculpture park located between Ashford Hollow and East Otto in Cattaraugus County, New York. The 425-acre (1.72 km2) outdoor art museum, which was created by artist Larry W. Griffis Jr in 1966, was the first sculpture park in the United States.[1] It features more than 250 works of art created by over 100 artists, and also serves as a nature preserve, with 10 miles (16 km) of trails. Griffis founded the Ashford Hollow Foundation for the Visual and Performing Arts to administer the park, which was most recently headed by Simon Griffis, son of Larry Griffis, until Simon's death at Zoar Valley in June 2010.[2] Other members of the Griffis family have also served on the AHF board of directors.[3]
Griffis Sculpture Park
Sculptures by Larry W. Griffis Jr at Griffis Sculpture Park's Rohr Hill Road section
Location of Griffis Sculpture Park within New York State
Ashford Hollow Foundation for the Visual and Performing Arts
Open
May to October
Website
www.griffispark.org
The park draws 35,000 visitors annually. Admission is $5 per person, which is paid on a volunteer basis with QR codes (PayPal or Venmo) scannable near the entrance to the park. The park is also supported by private donations and fund raisers. The park is open from May to October.
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."[4]
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 in Concord and Lewiston's ArtPark were possible candidates for the vision, but were passed over by the artist.
In 1966, Griffis purchased 100 acres (0.40 km2) near Ashford Hollow in the Southern Tier of Western New York and placed 15 of his own 25 feet (7.6 m) welded steel works on a hillside along a country road. The Ashford Hollow Foundation acquired another 325 acres (1.32 km2) and drummed up commissions for additional sculptures.
Artedit
More than 100 local, national and international artists have contributed to this park, although much of the art features members of the Griffis family.[5] Other artist include Bolinski, Bellavia, Dwain, Gerst, Hatchett, Patterson,[6] Mehrdad Hadighi,[7] and Lauren Scime.[8] 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, life-size nudes (men and women), or sets such as castles or submarines.[9]
Referencesedit
^Kelly, Geoff, , archived from the original on 2008-12-05, retrieved 2007-12-11
^Griffis killed in Zoar Valley fall; Beloved arts educator, son of noted sculptor dies while hiking alone in Town of Persia
^Bowers, Kristin (Oct 22, 1999), Griffis' sculptures complement natural surroundings, St. Bonaventure University, archived from the original on 2012-08-02
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Griffis Sculpture Park.
Griffis Sculpture Park Home Page
December 20, 2023
griffis, sculpture, park, sculpture, park, located, between, ashford, hollow, east, otto, cattaraugus, county, york, acre, outdoor, museum, which, created, artist, larry, griffis, 1966, first, sculpture, park, united, states, features, more, than, works, creat. Griffis Sculpture Park is a sculpture park located between Ashford Hollow and East Otto in Cattaraugus County New York The 425 acre 1 72 km2 outdoor art museum which was created by artist Larry W Griffis Jr in 1966 was the first sculpture park in the United States 1 It features more than 250 works of art created by over 100 artists and also serves as a nature preserve with 10 miles 16 km of trails Griffis founded the Ashford Hollow Foundation for the Visual and Performing Arts to administer the park which was most recently headed by Simon Griffis son of Larry Griffis until Simon s death at Zoar Valley in June 2010 2 Other members of the Griffis family have also served on the AHF board of directors 3 Griffis Sculpture ParkSculptures by Larry W Griffis Jr at Griffis Sculpture Park s Rohr Hill Road sectionLocation of Griffis Sculpture Park within New York StateTypeSculpture parkLocation6902 Mill Valley RoadEast Otto New YorkCoordinates42 22 12 N 78 41 29 W 42 37000 N 78 69139 W 42 37000 78 69139Area425 acres 1 72 km2 Created1966 1966 Operated byAshford Hollow Foundation for the Visual and Performing ArtsOpenMay to OctoberWebsitewww wbr griffispark wbr orgThe park draws 35 000 visitors annually Admission is 5 per person which is paid on a volunteer basis with QR codes PayPal or Venmo scannable near the entrance to the park The park is also supported by private donations and fund raisers The park is open from May to October Contents 1 History 2 Art 3 References 4 External linksHistory editThe 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 4 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 in Concord and Lewiston s ArtPark were possible candidates for the vision but were passed over by the artist In 1966 Griffis purchased 100 acres 0 40 km2 near Ashford Hollow in the Southern Tier of Western New York and placed 15 of his own 25 feet 7 6 m welded steel works on a hillside along a country road The Ashford Hollow Foundation acquired another 325 acres 1 32 km2 and drummed up commissions for additional sculptures Art editMore than 100 local national and international artists have contributed to this park although much of the art features members of the Griffis family 5 Other artist include Bolinski Bellavia Dwain Gerst Hatchett Patterson 6 Mehrdad Hadighi 7 and Lauren Scime 8 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 life size nudes men and women or sets such as castles or submarines 9 References edit Kelly Geoff See You There Flash Party archived from the original on 2008 12 05 retrieved 2007 12 11 Griffis killed in Zoar Valley fall Beloved arts educator son of noted sculptor dies while hiking alone in Town of Persia Ashford Hollow Foundation Griffis Family Thompson Carolyn September 5 2004 Outdoor sculpture parks blend art with nature Augusta Chronicle Griffis Sculpture Park 2006 USA East Coast Sculpture org Donovan Patricia December 18 2003 Hadighi s Studio for Architecture recognized byArchitectural Record vol 35 University at Buffalo Reporter Lauren Scime s Resume and Bio archived from the original on 2007 11 24 Bowers Kristin Oct 22 1999 Griffis sculptures complement natural surroundings St Bonaventure University archived from the original on 2012 08 02External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Griffis Sculpture Park Griffis Sculpture Park Home Page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Griffis Sculpture Park amp oldid 1147084686, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
