POND ISLAND--The late Cynric Griffith “spent his years in St. Maarten capturing the spirit of her people and the beauty of the island,” said Culture Minister Wycliffe Smith in tribute to the prolific artist on Wednesday.
“Time and again we have heard it said, Mr. Griffith was able to bare the soul of his muse when he put paint to canvas, or any surface for that matter,” said Smith. He described Griffith as “a painter, an educator, a master artist, a cultural giant, and an ambassador of St. Maarten.”
“Each piece of art was a masterpiece worthy of admiration. By garnering the attention of every eye that beheld them, his paintings transported others to this island that he made home and guaranteed a love for this paradise,” Smith said.
St. Maarten mourns along with Griffith’s family, Smith said. “We will also honour his legacy by encouraging the development of the arts in our future generations,” he said.
Griffith, who was just 10 days shy of his 100th birthday when he died on December 22, 2018, was laid to rest on Tuesday.
