In Marilu Swett’s current show, “Sounding” she focuses her attention on the ocean, and creates a visually stunning, emotionally appealing show of brand new work. Sounding has multiple meanings. It is a term used for whales diving, taking depth measurements with sonar and making sounds.
One of her sculptures, "Diver" is a small whale tail form made in lead that is "sounding" on a shelf. It has a pair of human legs incised on the surface, and is painted in acrylic. As she describes “I was thinking of parallels with scrimshaw (the incising process), comparative anatomy, and my proximity to the ocean. Whale fluke depiction is common in Massachusetts, as we have Stellwagen Bank and its humpback summer inhabitants. The legs are modeled on my son's- his name is Jonah. The image is absurd and comical, and to me poignant as well.”