Community Foundation of North Louisiana has named painter Cathy Cobb as the 2019 winner of the G. Scott Griffin Award. The award, which features a cash prize of $1,000, is given annually to a local artist who has contributed to the community through his or her art while overcoming adversity. Cathy will be honored at a reception at Artspace on Thursday, September 12, 2019, at 4:30 PM.
According to Cathy, her acrylic paintings are “an outward depiction of the universal struggle that is part of the human condition. My familiarity with the tug of war comes from my own lived experiences of chronic illness and loss combined with over 20 years of walking with others in all walks of life in my pastoral ministry career.” Her beautiful paintings, often depicting flowers, animals, and other outdoor scenes, have provided a method to help her overcome the physical and emotional challenges of chronic illness. She now hopes to use the healing power of art to help others in need.
The award is named in honor of G. Scott Griffin, who was a multi-disciplinary, multi-media artist with accomplishments in musical composition, instrumental performance, photography, and film. Because of these achievements, it was often unrecognized that Griffin overcame many adversities in the execution of his art. From his childhood, Griffin coped with a visual handicap, congenital nystagmus, which would have been reason for most talented artists to cease performing. Rather than giving up his artistic dreams, Griffin invited his audiences to join him on a journey of discovery and beauty that was possible through the lens of his camera and his varied canvases. His legendary music enchanted listeners because he played from the heart and not by sight.
Griffin died of complications related to cancer on October 7, 2007 at the age of 45. The Scott Griffin Fund was created at the Community Foundation to keep his memory alive and to honor those artists who approach their art and life with the same passion and persistence as Griffin.
Past recipients include: Larry Taz Sanchez, Aaron Cox, Bertha Cooper Harris, Angelique Feaster-Evans, Poetic X, Carlos Colón, Buddy Flett, Ian Quiet, and Bobby Darrow.