The impact that the late master of portraits and cultural icon Cynric Griffith has had on the island, his students and colleagues is still fresh on the minds of many.
Considered the “elder statesman” of St. Maarten/St. Martin artists, he created works that are compelling, with portraits that seem to reflect the profound and unseen traits of a person’s inner life. Born in St. Kitts in 1919, he was educated at Art Student League and National Academy of Fine Arts in New York, and made St. Maarten his home for most of his prolific life.
Griffith began his career with his first entry in the 1955 competition by Alcoa Steamship Company, and had since taken part in international exhibitions and received the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Culture Prize in 2013, among other honours and highlights.
He earned the public praises and respect of art lovers, other painters, Governor Eugene Holiday, and Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte.
Griffith passed away in late December – 10 days shy of his 100th birthday.
He is remembered here by iconic painters of the island: Ruby Bute, Max Phelipa and Roland Richardson. In their own words, the three considered him an inspiration, mentor and colleague, and remember him fondly.
Ruby Bute
He was Mr. Griffith to many, just Cynric to some, and Griff to his friends.
In 1978, I was introduced to Cynric Griffith at a Bahá’í’s celebration on the beach. I was told that his studio was somewhere at the head of Back Street. What an honour it was to finally meet the artist!
I remarked that he was not a big man, but his handshake was firm and his eyes were wise. In his soft-spoken voice, he urged me to draw. “Keep drawing,” he said. “Before any colour, have your drawing right.”
Words of my mentor. Thank you, Griff.
Then there was his lighter side. We used to chat, share old stories and we would laugh out loud. Griff saw humour in everything. He was also a baker. Amusingly, I listened to his lecture about baking a good bread and pound cake.
When we spoke about the fine arts, then the serious side of the master teacher would come forward.
While writing this tribute to Griff, I see a busy market scene come to life, the beautiful light on the faces of the heavyset women holds me in awesome admiration. The old cane-cutter sitting down after a hard day’s work is weary and real.
“Mother in trouble” forever a classic she will be …
Mountain greens of hills and slopes …
In conclusion, I say cheers to your vision and careful planning that brought you thus far.
Cheers to the genius. Thank you for your great gift to our nation.
Max Phelipa
I met this great artist decades ago at an art expo of another artist. Since I knew who he was and I always admired his work, I wanted to introduce myself to him. But before I had the chance, this man, who I later had the privilege to call my friend and colleague, Mr. Griff asked me: What are you doing here, Mr. Policeman? Do you paint too?
After I told him yes, he asked me in a joking manner: Do you have any work that I can see then (probably thinking that I didn’t)? When I answered him in an affirmative manner, his reaction was, “Let’s go and show me.” After he saw my work, the rest – as they say – is history.
He later introduced me to management of the Bearden Fine Arts Gallery, Mrs. Dorothy Dow, who, upon advice of Mr. Griff, gave me my first opportunity to exhibit my work at this prestigious art gallery in 1988.
Mr. Griff wasn’t only a master portrait painter, he was a master at any type of subject he decided needed to be immortalised on canvas or paper for that matter. His landscapes and seascapes of local sceneries speak volumes, and his portraits are telling stories from the past and beyond. Griff’s work can stand next to the many masters in the world and his work would not budge because of Griff’s own mastery.
Mr. Griff was also always there when you needed advice from him. He was a great teacher and a friend whose motto was that you must put in the time into something you love dearly and then he added with a big grin: “That is my life motto for everything.” And he laughed again!
Thank you, Mr. Griff, for being there when we needed you. Thank you for mentoring us through your art. Thank you for your contribution to art and culture on St. Maarten. And thank you for helping me become the artist I am today. Rest in eternal peace. We’re going to miss you!
Roland Richardson
Cynric Griffith occupies a singular place in my life. He was the first Caribbean artist I met. It was in the summer of 1965.
I had taken a break from art school in the USA and had come back to St. Martin, where I met him in his little wooden one-room studio gallery at the beginning of Back Street in Philipsburg.
He was pleasant and encouraging to me. From then till now, he has always retained my friendship and respect.
As an artist, he had the strength to pursue his calling and had the unquestioned conviction that his work was created to glorify the subject and to bring pleasure to the viewer.
Much of it had a sort of monumental quality.
It was a very rare and special responsibility to be an artist in a region where there were few. It took courage and he deserves the honour that we accord him.
The creative spirit chose him and he devoted his entire life to its practice. He was an artist right up to the end.
We took great pleasure when he visited my own gallery many times over the years. My wife Laura and I would take him on a tour and talk for hours.
I was privileged when he modelled for me to paint his portrait. He sat proudly as he held his head up with his hand.
Throughout our 50-year friendship, he was always an honourable, dapper gentleman.
