“Sunshine,” bronze sculpture, 17 x 10 x 17 in. —Gwen Marcus
Sculptor Gwen Marcus’ “Sunshine” captures one of life’s sweetest pleasures.
Internationally acclaimed sculptor Gwen Marcus describes her limited edition bronze piece “Sunshine” as a tribute to one of life’s moments. The 17- by 10- by 17-inch sculpture depicts a woman in a simple shift dress seated on a chair, leaning her head back to soak up the warmth of a sunny day.
“You almost feel like she’s capturing the rays in her face,” says Marcus, who always works with live models in her creations. The model she chose for this piece is one of her favorites.
“She’s one of the most ‘beautiful inside’ people that I know,” Marcus says.
In a statement about the award-winning sculpture Marcus writes, “Sunshine captures a delicious moment. A woman pauses in what she is doing, takes off her shoes, makes herself comfortable, and gives her entire self to the sun. The viewer feels the warmth, enjoys the moment themselves, and understands that this sculpture is about the joy of life and kindness to self.”
Marcus, who splits her time between New York City and Cape Cod, has won a multitude of awards. She has exhibited in dozens of museums and galleries and her work can be found in corporate and private collections around the world. She has created a number of large-scale pieces for public indoor and outdoor spaces. A few years back, Marcus was commissioned by The Actors’ Fund of America to create an Annual Lifetime Achievement Award.
Marcus works with the lost wax casting process. Unlike many sculptors, she insists on being involved in every step of the process — from creating the clay model, to making the wax mold, to finishing off the bronze cast and overseeing the patina process. Of the latter she says, “There is layer upon layer of different chemicals that are applied. You have to get just the right amount of one versus another so that you get the right, subtle look. It adds a little bit of vibration that makes the piece come alive.”
Of “Sunshine,” which can be found at the Louisa Gould Gallery in Vineyard Haven, Marcus says, “I love this piece. It radiates positivity and freshness and experiencing something in the moment. You just tilt your head back and feel it. You just appreciate the day.”