Marc Mellon Studios
One of America's foremost representational sculptors, Marc Mellon is well known for his portrait busts, commemorative statues, and works in bronze exploring the worlds of dance, sports, politics, entertainment, literature, philanthropy and more.
For more than 15 years Winuk Communications has provided public relations support to this world-renowned sculptor of the NBA and WNBA MVP Awards; the Official Presidential Inaugural Medal of Barack Obama; the statue of philanthropist and business leader George Eastman; and the busts of entertainer Tony Bennett, Pope John Paul II, President George H.W. Bush, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and author Elie Wiesel and many other luminaries.
Among many other assignments, the agency helped secure and coordinate a six-month-long special exhibit of the artist's sports sculptures at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center on the campus of Montclair State University in New Jersey.
In 2021, Winuk Communications managed national media relations for the artist’s creation and unveiling of the Jackie Robinson-George Shuba sculpture (see videos below), which depicts the first on-field interracial handshake in professional baseball history.
“Handshake of the Century:” National Media Coverage
In 2020-21, Winuk Communications managed national media relations for the development and dedication of Mellon’s statue commemorating the historic handshake in 1946 between the baseball players Jackie Robinson and George Shuba. This is considered to be the first-ever on-field interracial handshake in baseball history. The story of this significant moment and the statue that depicts it are featured in these two national media reports, secured and coordinated by the agency as the 75th anniversary of “The Handshake of the Century” approached.
A Special Exhibit for a Special Museum
The agency helped secure and coordinate a six-month-long special exhibit of the artist's sports sculptures at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center on the campus of Montclair State University in New Jersey. The exhibit featured dozens of the artist’s sculptures (busts, awards and more) celebrating legends of boxing, tennis, hockey, basketball, baseball, football and other sports.
Annual March of Dimes Sports Luncheon
The agency also provides support each year for the artist and his studio at the Annual March of Dimes Sports Luncheon fundraising event in NYC, where sports luminaries such as David Cone, Mark Teixeira and Mariano Rivera (NY Yankees); Cal Ripken, Jr. (Baltimore Orioles); Steve Bornstein (NFL Network); Mark Emmert (NCAA); Andre Agassi, Billie Jean King and Venus Williams (tennis); former NBA Commissioner David Stern; Michael Strahan (NY Giants); Danica Patrick (NASCAR); Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach and Hope Solo (U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team) and many others have been awarded Mellon’s bronze statuette.
March of Dimes Annual Sports Award: Mellon, Howard Katz, Mark Messier, Michelle Wie, Kevin Plank, and March of Dimes Sports Luncheon Event Chairman Sean McManus.
