Harold Grinspoon is on his third act. After a successful career in real estate, he and his wife launched the Harold Grinspoon Foundation in 1991, dedicated to building vibrant Jewish communities. Then he became an artist—and this summer, his large-scale sculptures are on display across the Berkshires. Seven works are featured at Chesterwood in Global Warming Global Warning, three at the Norman Rockwell Museum’s Hidden Wonders, and another at The Mount’s annual sculpture show, Movement.
What inspired you to begin an art career later in life?
I have always loved nature—I’ve hiked mountains all over the world, done river rafting, and along the way collected natural items, sometimes even commissioning artists to create pieces with them. My own art practice grew out of that appreciation and sense of wonder, but this time it was right in my backyard. A very large, odd-shaped cherry tree I had looked out at for decades fell, and for reasons I can’t really explain, I wanted to create something new with it. I decided to quarter it lengthwise, which made multiple pieces that retained the original shape, and then rearranged the pieces to emphasize and repeat the original form of the tree. That inspired me to keep creating—first with other trees, and then with other materials. This all began in my 80s, when I had stepped away from the day-to-day of my business and foundation.
How would you describe your art?
A strong theme in my work is giving new life to items that have “lost” their original intention: a tree that has died, or been twisted by storms, or polished by water; industrial equipment or antique artifacts that become bases or integrated as elements of surprise.
How has art helped you grow—and what advice do you have for others looking to bring meaning to their lives, at any age?
Art gives you another marvelous dimension to express yourself, and a chance to fulfill yourself with your thoughts and ideas. And it gives other people an opportunity to use their imagination, discover what they see in the art, and explore how that feels to them.
