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Dedication of “The Catch" Tonight at Eldredge Park

07/30/2019 8:19 AM

Article By: CCBL Public Relations Office

ORLEANS FIREBIRDS ANNOUNCEMENT

Dedication of “The Catch” to take place Tuesday, 6:15pm @ Eldredge Park

 

The inspirational and already well admired statue, The Catch, installed on the hill behind home plate will be formally dedicated this coming Tuesday July 30, 2019 at 6:15 PM, prior to our home game with Chatham at 7PM.  The artist, Gwen Marcus, as well as Orleans Firebirds Bat Kids, will be in attendance as the Firebirds celebrate the completion of the installation. The artist will be available post the dedication for questions from all. Please join us for this celebration.

Please join us for the dedication of The Catch on Tuesday July 30, 2019 at 6:15PM 

 

 

ABOUT THE CATCH STATUE

Article from: Orleans Firebirds Yearbook

 

There is a new addition to Eldredge Park this season – “The Catch” (a.k.a. “Catch”) by nationally recognized sculptor Gwen Marcus. Eldredge Park is the perfect setting for the work as it embodies a young child making a catch in the outfield or going for a foul ball behind home plate.

 

The sculpture is a gift to the Firebirds by a generous anonymous donor. Nauset Regional Schools graciously and enthusiastically agreed to let Catch be installed on school property near the field.

 

About the Sculpture

 

Gwen Marcus has put a lot of herself into Catch which gives the sculpture life and strength. It is inspiring to look at for young players as well as for those who love baseball.

 

There is suspense surrounding the sculpture as Gwen has carefully positioned the ball teetering on the edge of the glove. It’s left to the imagination whether or not the boy ends up with the ball. The boy’s expression contributes to the suspense as he isn’t sure as well, but it is clear he is going to give it his best effort. Asked about the outcome, Gwen replies that she thinks he stretches a bit more and closes the glove at just the right time to make the play.

 

Catch is a composite of two young boys. The body was modeled on a little boy from New York City who loved baseball. He was very happy and enthusiastic about being involved with the sculpture. Working with a live model who was excited about baseball contributed greatly to the energy of the piece. The face was that of another young boy. Catch’s outfit was inspired by the players in the 1976 movie “The Bad News Bears” staring Walter Matthau and Tatum O’Neil.

 

The detail in the piece is incredible, from the boy’s shoe strings to the buttons on his jersey

to his facial expression. A number of people who saw the statue after it was installed have commented

on how impressed they are that she has given Catch’s eyes life. As you view him from various angles

the shadowing changes to give him real pupils.

 

Although a limited edition, there are several other Catch statues by Gwen throughout the world including the Chi Mei Museum in Tainan, Taiwan; the Landmark Bank in Missouri; several private

collections; and, most notably, Braves Field in Conway, Arkansas, a park for special needs kids and

adults to be able to play baseball. People going to Braves Field love to have their picture taken with

Catch, and the Firebirds hope you will have your picture with the Eldredge Catch as well.

 

How Catch Was Made

 

Using a live model she relies on her deep experience in drawing and anatomical observation to arrive a pose to be pleasing from all angles. Once she completes the life sized sculpture of Catch in clay, the “lost wax” process is used to create the piece in bronze. For more about how Catch was made please go to www.gwenmarcus.com/images/FAC%20article.pdf for an article by Peter Tripp, Editor-in-Chief of Fine Arts Connoisseur ( July/August 2015). The article contains photos and commentary about the production of one of her sculptures.

 

About the Artist

 

During an interview Gwen Marcus said she wants her work to “be elevating and inspiring to

the human spirit.” She certainly has succeeded to do so for baseball fans with Catch as it is the essence of baseball.

 

Her works can be found in museums and private collections worldwide. Gwen, who also paints with watercolors, grew up on Long Island. She comes from an artistic family as her mother was a ballet teacher and he father was a writer.

 

Gwen studied at New York University and the Rhode Island School of design. She is a Fellow of and has served on the board of the National Sculpture Society. In her 40 years of sculpting Gwen has received numerous awards and honors for her works, among them the highly regarded

Gold Medal from the Allied Artists of America. In addition, she was awarded the Gold Medal of

Honor by Audubon Artist, Inc., as well as The Hudson Valley Art Association Gold Medal. She is

a four-time recipient of the Gold Medal of Honor from the American Artists Professional League

and has received the Centennial Medal of Honor and the Gold Medal of Honor (twice) from

The Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club. In March 2019, Gwen was the Artist in Residence at National Historic Landmark Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina. Brookgreen Gardens combines figurative sculptures by American artists (including Gwen) in a beautiful outdoor garden setting.

 

Gwen’s dad was a baseball fan who took the kids to Yankees games. As a result Gwen and her younger sister became a Yankees fans. Her sister who had a career in dance is still a passionate Yankees fan. Gwen’s husband is a huge Mets fan and she now roots for the Mets. At games she loves the excitement and energy of the crowd. With the National Anthem, hot dogs, peanuts and an exciting game it is a wonderful American experience.

 

Given the investment of time, effort and emotion she put into the sculpture, she almost thinks of Catch as her child and she can’t help but smile when she looks at it. Gwen couldn’t be happier with the Firebirds acquiring her work as Eldredge Park is the perfect baseball field.