New art installation at Whatcom County park represents ‘beauty of family, community’
About a dozen people gathered at Griffintown Park on Wednesday morning in Ferndale to celebrate the installation of a new abstract art sculpture.
Named “Sense of Connection,” the sculpture is meant to be an abstract representation of the beauty of family, community and togetherness.
“It really embodies the sense of connection we want people to have in our communities,” sculpture designer Robin Larson said in an interview with The Herald.
The sculpture’s three figures that bend toward the middle of the piece represent the Augustus Griffin family, a historically relevant Ferndale family for whom Griffintown Park is named, according to the city of Ferndale.
Installed just feet away from tall trees and train tracks, the sculpture is designed to blend in seamlessly with the natural and industrial environments surrounding it.
“Watching the whole process — going from a bunch of flat metal in the garage to seeing it come together this way — that’s the exciting part for me,” said artist and fabricator Chris Larson.
Artists Chris and Robin Larson of Metal and Glass Art of Seattle currently live in Mukilteo but have longtime ties to the Whatcom County community and said they felt proud to be able to commission art for the park in Ferndale. The bronze and aluminum sculpture weighs about 650 pounds and is one of two large abstract art pieces now installed at Griffintown Park.
City of Ferndale Arts Commission staff liaison Susan Duncan said this installation is part of a larger goal of art expansion throughout the park.
“Ultimately, the Arts Commission would like to have more art in Griffintown and we’d like to extend art through the whole park,” Duncan told The Herald.
The Berghoff Art Fund in partnership with the Whatcom Community Foundation funded the project with the goal of creating a sense of hope and optimism for the community.
“We’re really pleased to play a role in helping communities activate space with art,” said Pamela Jons of the Whatcom Community Foundation. “We’re honored to be able to connect people to this place.”
Augustus Griffin (1826-1909) was a Civil War veteran who sailed up the Nooksack with his wife Harriet and 10-year-old daughter Jennie to purchase a 400-acre plot of land, much of which now includes the park. He hoped he could eventually profit off the land when the railroad came through town. Due to failing health, he eventually gave away the acreage to the railroad and other families.
