Colors of the Canyon
Broadway St., City of Laguna Beach
4′ × 72.25′ × .5′ — stainless steel, fused glass, powder‑coated stainless steel
Commissioned by The City of Laguna Beach and the Orange County Transit Authority
Installed along the city’s entry point, Colors of the Canyon traces the visual and emotional journey through Laguna Canyon—from inland grasses to the coastal tide. A stainless‑steel wave rises and flows with the landscape, its palette evolving with the seasons and terrain. Working in collaboration with artist Maggie Spencer, Marsh developed a technique akin to “painting with glass,” layering 26 colors of fused glass to mirror the canyon’s luminous transformations in nature and town life.
Beginning with spring’s electric greens, the sculpture shifts through golden wildflowers, shadowy purples of Big Bend’s berries, and the festive hues of downtown—before arriving at the ocean in turquoise, sea glass, and shell. The piece honors the lived experience of moving through the canyon, step by step, light by light.
Full view of the sculptural wave flowing along Broadway Street, Laguna Beach.
Angled view showing layered glass colors and flowing stainless form.
Close-up of fused glass, showing the ‘painting with glass’ technique in vibrant layers.
Powder-coated bronze supports with subtle detailing blend into the background.
Fabrication process, with artist creating the surface pattern on the stainless steel panels prior to glass installation.
Early morning sunlight casts vivid shadows of the glass forms onto the walkway.