About
Artist Statement
My life has been influenced and affected by art from an early age. Exploring the ruins of Rome as a young boy, I was impressed by the size and age-old beauty of the broken rock of previous empires. The way nature came back to cover over what was old and neglected and mingle with architectural marble of the past offered incredible views of past and present. Growing up in a house that was always dominated by painting, sculpture and music became a normal experience for me. Being in the background and hearing great passionate discussions about life and art with jazz music playing helped me develop a language and understanding that I would utilize the rest of my life.
I received both a Bachelors and Masters degree in sculpture at Goddard College in Vermont under the English sculptor Peter Ruddick. With Peter I learned the language of the abstract expressionist sculptors Moore, Lipchitz, Brancusi and Gaudia Breshka. In addition we worked with the figure studying Rodin, Michelangelo, Giacometti and others. It is from my experience of carving wood and clay modeling that I have adopted the sculpture method I use today. I combine the traditional process of building up with clay with the process of carving. The set of tools I use are about 70 years old and I received them in the late 70Ős from my father. These tools work very well with the hard plasticene clay. Working with form in three dimensions from every angle is what drives me.
Griffis Sculpture Park
My father Larry W Griffis Jr. conceived and built Griffis Sculpture Park starting in the early 60's.
The concept for the park occurred in 1960 when our family was in Italy. We were playing on the ruins of Hadrian's Villa and my father began to develop his dream of having an outdoor sculpture park where people could bring a picnic. People would be allowed to climb on and touch the artwork without restrictions. When I reached high school my father Larry Jr. purchased 400 acres of land from a donation from my Grandmother Ruth Hayes Griffis. It was on this new tract of land that we erected close to 200 works of art.
Larry Jr. and I developed the animal kingdom featuring the giraffe and cobra. When I finished my B.A. in sculpture at Goddard College, Larry Jr. asked if he could cast and place my 8Foot Man at the Park. It stands on a hill overlooking the pond and valley below.
I was involved as sculptor, designer, director and supervisor for the Ashford Hollow Foundation for 30 years. I have been placing environmental sculpture and figure work at the park since the 70's.
My father considered the sculpture park 90% complete by 1985. It was at this time I moved to New England and worked as a Design Director and Senior Director for Hasbro and Marvel Entertainment.