Griffis Sculpture Park

On a green hillside, in a forest, and on a pond; everywhere one looks in the Park there is beauty.  I have been going to Griffis since I was a child, some 30+ years ago.  When my family vacationed at Jellystone Park, we would drive past the strange figures in the field and the iron-flying-things.  It is one of those place that is irrevocably imprinted on my psyche for the remainder of my life.  I am not sure, but if I had to point to the time in my life that I first began to appreciate art, I would say the summer walks through the fields are the catalyst.

Every summer we would walk a different area and run around playing on the structures.  That's the great thing about this place.  Not only is the stuff cool, you are allowed to interact with it, experience it.  That was exactly what the creator Larry Griffis wanted the audience to do: Experience Art.  The park started off with 100 acres and now has over 425, as well as over 100 contributors to the experience.

Some of the pieces are recognizable as a natural thing, such as an insect, or an animal, a woman, or even an alien.  These easily recognizable objects are a great introduction, a seduction to the abstract and deeply meaningful creations hidden deep withing the park.  Try explaining sublime-steel-structures, tucked into fields, valleys and so on.  It's a tough sell to someone from the city, who is still being gently introduced to Appalachian life.  Yep, that's my girlfriend in the picture above.  I told her to experience the art, my descriptions could never do it justice.  She knows I have an eclectic collection of art and artists as friends.  Her barrage of questions were answered with a hoagie, a Coke and a smile.  Oh, yeah; this park is 3 hours from my hometown and I sprung it on her at breakfast the morning we went.

Her apprehension was immediately relieved when we pulled into the parking lot.  I had told her about the place for years, but she thought it was a bit too fantastic to be real.  We walked two of the fields on top of the hill above Ashford Hollow for about 2 hours.  Once we made our way to the bottom I pointed out how the hill was substantial and the only shade was in the trees.  I did this on purpose.  The reason was, the real funky stuff was in the trees.  I wanted her to get sucked in before I sprung the (fun stuff) on her.

The walk back to the car was great.  The light filtering through the trees was perfect.  The art is already powerful on its own, but the light and shadow that day heightened the experience.  I know it left an impression on my her.  As for myself,  the art I have seen for years seemed different that day.  It took on a new meaning for me that day, I even told her as much.  There's something special about sharing my childhood memories with her and creating new ones, that further enhance our story.  She looked at the pictures and described what she smelled, heard and felt.  Griffis sucks you in and casts a spell on you like no other place I have experienced.  There is a stillness there that can't be found in gardens, or parks, even some preserves.

The place had her hooked and I loved it.  She survived another adventure with me and came out liking the mountains and its people.  Every time I take her back to my hometown I try to take her to a special place, so that way maybe she will want to move North.  I'm (ABC) Always, Be, Closing.  I'm always trying to sell her on the benefits of living in a valley rather than a city.  I feel a bit like Sysophis but it's OK.  I'm just happy she indulges my ideas of a good time.