Griffis Sculpture Park to Welcome New Sculptures of Inspirational Women
Griffis Sculpture Park to Welcome New Sculptures of Inspirational Women
The park is previewing one of the sculptures in Ellicottville for the next month!
ELLICOTTVILLE - One of the Griffis Sculpture Park’s newest sculptures will be calling Ellicottville its home for the next month. A life-like 10-ft. tall bronze sculpture of author Cheryl Strayed will be temporarily located in front of the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce building (9 W. Washington Street) before being permanently installed at the Sculpture Park in late June.
The public is invited to attend a welcoming event in front of the sculpture on Friday, June 4th at 5:00pm. Live Jazz music and refreshments will be served.
“With a majority of our downtown businesses being women owned or co-owned, this is a fitting tribute,” said Brian McFadden, Executive Director of the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce.
Griffis Sculpture Park recently received four bronze statues of inspirational women created by Australian collaborative artists Gillie and Marc Schattner. The life-like 10-ft. tall bronze sculptures of Gabby Douglas (Olympic gymnast), Tracy Dyson (astronaut), Janet Mock (actress/producer) and Cheryl Strayed were donated to the Ashford Hollow Foundation by the artists. The Cheryl Strayed sculpture was selected to appear in Ellicottville, as she is the author of the Oscar-nominated movie, “Wild” starring Reese Witherspoon. The movie was based on Strayed’s life and how she escaped personal demons by hiking 1,100 miles of the Pacific Coast trail. She has currently authored four books and hosts a successful podcast.
Gillie and Marc have been called “the most successful and prolific creators of public art in New York’s History” by the New York Times. Creating some of the world’s most innovative public sculptures, Gillie and Marc have redefined what public art should be, spreading messages of love, equality, and conservation around the world. Their highly coveted sculptures and paintings can be seen in art galleries and public sites in over 250 cities.
The unifying mission of the artwork is to fill the world with inspiring public art that spreads messages of love, equality, conservation and hope.
Ellicottville is amazing, and as we say, “Doesn’t This Place Feel GREAT!”