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New Sculpture by Local Artist Debuts at Bay Path University

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LONGMEADOW, MA—A new public sculpture, “LIFE,” has been installed on the Bay Path University campus. The piece, designed and crafted from a fallen branch of a live oak tree, was created by Harold Grinspoon, a longtime resident of Longmeadow and friend of the University.

A dedication for “LIFE” will be held on Wednesday, November 7th at 3:00 p.m. in front of Elliot Hall, and it is open to the public. In case of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled. “LIFE” will be on view at Bay Path University for the next two years.

“We are honored to have LIFE featured so prominently on our campus,” stated President Carol Leary. “It is a perfect complement to the surroundings and creates a dramatic outdoor art experience for our students and the public. We are deeply grateful for Harold Grinspoon’s generosity.”

After successful careers in business and philanthropy, Harold Grinspoon, at the age of 87, developed a new passion: art. Grinspoon’s work as a sculptor started when a towering cherry tree fell in his backyard. Over the course of time, the fallen tree captured his imagination, only to take form and become a lasting piece of artwork. This first sculpture was eventually placed on view at The Mount, the home and museum of celebrated author Edith Wharton located in Lenox, MA. It was the starting point for the ensuing 26 unique pieces of large-scale sculptures made from reclaimed trees, selected locally, as well as imported from Florida, California, and elsewhere.

Now at age 89, Grinspoon produces his sculptures in a bustling workshop in Agawam with a large team. Grinspoon’s work is also currently included in three curated group exhibitions with SculptureNow at The Mount in Lenox, MA; XTCA: Cross Town Contemporary Art Exhibition presented by the University Museum of Contemporary Art at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst; and Art in the Orchard in Easthampton, MA. His works have also been displayed in three public locations: MGM Springfield (MA); Eastern States Exposition (West Springfield, MA); and Mass General Hospital (Boston, MA).

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About Bay Path University

Bay Path University was founded in 1897. With locations in Longmeadow (main), East Longmeadow (Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center), Springfield (MA), Sturbridge (MA), and Concord (MA), Bay Path’s innovative program offerings include traditional undergraduate degrees for women, The American Women's College on-ground and online, the first all-women, all-online accredited bachelor’s degree programs in the country; over 30 graduate programs for women and men; and Strategic Alliances, offering professional development courses for individuals and organizations. Bay Path’s goal is to give students confidence in the fundamentals of their chosen field, the curiosity to question the ordinary, the leadership to show initiative, and the desire to make a difference.