Larry Griffis III Latest Sculpture - A Polarizing Piece
Larry Griffis III is a well-known Buffalo figure whose experience with steel is not only his passion, but his birthright. Some may know of his father’s sculpture park in East Otto, NY, founded in the 60s, but his son has taken up the torch and is now a world-renowned sculptor. What started with the father has continued with the son. Griffis' work is starting to appear in spots in Buffalo and now, to see one of his works, you need look no further than Forest Lawn Chapel.
Some of you may have read this story in the Buffalo News, but for those who haven’t, Griffis will forever be known as a sculptor whose one work memorializes a man who may - or may not - have discovered the North Pole. The scientific community has battled for years to determine which explorer first reached the top of the world – Frederick A. Cook or Robert E. Peary – and there may never be a conclusion to the argument.
Griffis has made a work of art called “Top of the World” that is dedicated to Cook, who claimed to have reached the North Pole in April 1908, a year before Peary. The monument is a half-ton bronze sculpture depicting the Northern Hemisphere in high detail. Whether you’re pro-Cook or pro-Peary, one thing is for sure, it is definitely great to have Larry Griffis creating art here in Buffalo.
Photo courtesy of the Buffalo News.
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PaulBuffalo
BRO editor, unless there's a bit of alchemy going on, I think Mr. Griffis would prefer to be known as a sculptor than a 'sculpture'. Also, the sculpture park is south of Buffalo, although it would be be nice if the park were in South Buffalo.
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eating
Such is the result of public access news reporting.
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Wit
Also, Griffis Sculpture Park is not in South Buffalo. It is south OF Buffalo, in Ashford Hollow, NY (closer to Ellicottville).
The writing in this piece is particularly deplorable. His experience with steel is his birthright? Constantly referring to him as "Griffis III"? Referring to the sculptor as a "sculpture" and then his sculpture as his "one work" before referencing his other works? I know it's easy to criticize from the other side of things, but writing like this reflects poorly on your site and this city in general. Is this really the best we can do?
That said, the monument is very cool and reminds me how much I enjoy traipsing around the cemetery. (The backstory which I was finally able to understand from the Buffalo News story is interesting too.)
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sambo
I got the douche chills reading this! The Griffis Family should be insulted! Where was Buscarino on this? You call yourself a Managing Editor, that alone is an insult to Journalism. This organization has been painstakingly sinking like the Titanic for over a year.
I must say I do enjoy watching it sink. But for christ sake don't insult one of WNY's most Artistically respected family's.
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PaulBuffalo
If anyone visits this sculpture park in the summer months, be prepared with heavy doses of mosquito repellant because the mosquitos have an artistic bent that motivates them to sculpt on any exposed patches of your skin.
With all the land available within Buffalo's city limits, I'm surprised that no one has advanced the notion of a Buffalo sculpture park.
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sonyactivision
^ With sculpture of this quality, I'm not surprised.
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benfranklin
...and the Bills game this weekend is in North Buffalo.
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MEC
I would think the sculptures would be able to survive our winters on the waterfront, they should incorporate them into the inner/outer harbor project.
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benfranklin
...and the Bills game this weekend is in North Buffalo.
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