Reception on Feb. 7 honors Lee Griffiths and world-renowned program
Emporia State’s engraving arts program will be on display — as well as its new instructor — during a reception on Friday, Feb. 7. Emporia State offers the only bachelor’s program in engraving in the world.
Both instructor Lee Griffiths and the program also have a new point of prestige — Griffiths recently was named Grand Master Engraver by Glendo LLC, an Emporia company that designs, manufactures and sells engraving equipment.
Griffiths began his engraving path while operating the family farm full-time in Idaho. In the late 1990s, neighbors and fellow farmers asked him to embellish some knives they were making. Griffiths’ passion for engraving arts took root.
Unable to afford professional-quality equipment, Griffiths’ early projects came from tools he improvised from items in his barn. By 2001, Griffiths had purchased some Glendo equipment and began teaching workshops in the company’s training center.
“Lee started at a time when there wasn’t much information about hand engraving and there was no internet to feed his hunger for learning,” explained Chris Correll, president of Glendo LLC. “With many challenges in front of him, his passion for the art led him to continue to work and achieve.”
In 2007, the family farm sold, and Griffiths became a full-time engraver. He has been named Firearms Engravers Guild of America (FEGA) Master Engraver, in 2001, and Colt Master Engraver. In 2024, he learned through Glendo about the position at Emporia State University.
“I was unaware of the need for an engraving arts instructor at ESU,” Griffiths said. “They contacted me and after some discussion I accepted the challenge.”
“Over the years Lee has become a world-renowned engraver and teacher,” Glendo’s Correll said. “His love of people and willingness to share makes him an incredible asset not only to the industry, but to our local community here in Emporia.”
A reception to honor Griffiths and showcase ESU’s engraving arts program will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, in the first-floor commons area of King Hall on the ESU campus. It is free and open to the public.
Guests will be able to tour the engraving studio, and the two King Hall art galleries will be open. Feb. 7 is also the First Friday Art Walk in Emporia, and those at the reception are encouraged to explore those activities downtown after the event. Also available will be discounted tickets to “Tough,” the next production for ESU Theatre.
About Engraving Arts at Emporia State
The Engraving Arts program explores the conceptual as well as the technical side of engraving. Students learn to use GRS pneumatic engraving tools as well as push engraving tools and will be introduced to different methods of surface ornamentation as well as learning to render forms with line. This program welcomes all disciplines to combine techniques. Installation, ceramics, metal, assemblage, printmaking, painting, found objects (and more) are all invited into the lab for exploration. Visit emporia.edu/art to learn more.