NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT USA
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"The Sapphire ARTISTS" is the name given to the archival project listing the artists, writers and composers who, over the years, have made the Griffis Art Center (GAC) their home.

By choosing to make the GAC their personal residence, their creative energy has, and continues to contribute, to the goals of the GAC and the creative excitement of New London’s art scene. 

Founded in 1989, the GAC currently includes three (3) historic apartment buildings with a shaded garden in a quiet residential neighborhood of New London, Connecticut.
The buildings are named: Gemfire Studio - which includes the studio space for the visiting International artists, Sky Break - named after the book of poetry about New London, by Lyubomir Levchev while he was in residence from Bulgaria in 1994-95, and Sapphire House – the largest and oldest (1855) building of the three.  The garden on the property was created by volunteers in 1996 and is dedicated to the well-known impressionist artist and conservator in the area Roger W. Dennis as an inspiration to the resident artists and for the pleasure of the neighborhood.

Since 1989, there has been an ongoing variety of artistic activities continually taking place with the resident artists.  Some of the activities have been private and some have been public, but they include drawing classes, poetry readings, weddings, cocktail parties, lectures, art exhibitions, Garden tours, Historic House tours, May Day celebrations, dinner parties, movie filming, concerts and even Ti Chi classes.  Sometimes, just sitting around the back yard picnic table with the other artists has been a source of inspiration, encouragement, fun and simple reflection. It is with gratitude that we acknowledge and thank all the wonderfully creative artists who have made the Griffis Art Center their home.  
                     
                                                            "Art!  Who comprehends her? With whom can one consult
                                                                                               concerning this great goddess? “ 

                                                                                                                         Ludwig van Beethoven



 
Joan Atkins Visual Artist
Michael Bergeron Visual Artist
Lou Bonamarte Visual Artist
Robert Braunfield

Writer, Visual Artist

Tiffany Claire Visual Artist
Bryan Cook Musician
Yanitza Culbilitza Writer
Fred Franzen Visual Artist
Guido Garachochea Visual Artist
William Galabowski Visual Artist
Amy Hannum Visual Artist
Edeltraud Huller Visual Artist
Daniel Levanti Musician, Writer
Katia Jirankova Levanti Visual Artist
Li Lin Visual Artist
Debbie Margolin Musician
Patrick McLane Visual Artist
Philip Parkes Sculptor
Esam Pasha Visual Artist
Mark Patnode Visual Artist
Anne Seelbach Visual Artist
Rhonda Ward Writer
Yujuan Patnode Visual Artist
Christopher Zhang Visual Artist

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