Friendly Frog [Plaster]
Dublin Core
Title
Friendly Frog [Plaster]
Subject
Animal sculpture--20th century
Description
Friendly Frog, 1970
Plaster original
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.048
Fredericks designed this large, friendly, appealing sculpture as a children's slide. The original cast of this sculpture was located at the Hudson wing of the Genesee Valley Shopping Center in Flint, Michigan for 16 years where children did use it as a slide. In 1986 the mall donated it to the Flint Children's Museum and when they moved to their new quarters (1602 W. Third) in 1993, the building's floor was not strong enough to support the frog's 6,600 pound concrete and terrazzo weight. So, for 11 years the frog was stored at C & S Motors on Dort Highway, a trucking company whose owner served on the Flint Children's Museum Board. In 2004, newspaper articles in the Flint Journal Press ("Lonely Frog: Artist would croak if he could see 'Friendly' sculpture now") and letters to the editor prompted the relocation of the frog from the trucking company's storage area to Applewood Estates, the Charles Stewart and Ruth Rawlings Mott Estate. The Ruth Mott Foundation purchased the sculpture from the Flint Children's Museum in 2004, and now it resides permanently on the 30-acre estate that is open to the public several days each year for special events and festivals.
As of spring August 9th 2004, Friendly Frog resides in a new landscape complete with frog-friendly water features and a cushioned lily pad.
Plaster original
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.048
Fredericks designed this large, friendly, appealing sculpture as a children's slide. The original cast of this sculpture was located at the Hudson wing of the Genesee Valley Shopping Center in Flint, Michigan for 16 years where children did use it as a slide. In 1986 the mall donated it to the Flint Children's Museum and when they moved to their new quarters (1602 W. Third) in 1993, the building's floor was not strong enough to support the frog's 6,600 pound concrete and terrazzo weight. So, for 11 years the frog was stored at C & S Motors on Dort Highway, a trucking company whose owner served on the Flint Children's Museum Board. In 2004, newspaper articles in the Flint Journal Press ("Lonely Frog: Artist would croak if he could see 'Friendly' sculpture now") and letters to the editor prompted the relocation of the frog from the trucking company's storage area to Applewood Estates, the Charles Stewart and Ruth Rawlings Mott Estate. The Ruth Mott Foundation purchased the sculpture from the Flint Children's Museum in 2004, and now it resides permanently on the 30-acre estate that is open to the public several days each year for special events and festivals.
As of spring August 9th 2004, Friendly Frog resides in a new landscape complete with frog-friendly water features and a cushioned lily pad.
Creator
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Date
1970
Rights
Use of this image requires permission from the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
Relation
Type
Sculpture
Coverage
University Center (Mich.)
Sculpture Item Type Metadata
Physical Dimensions
64" x 72" x 90"
Materials
Plaster full-scale
Catalog Number
1991.048
Object Location
Main Exhibit Gallery
Provenance
1988 January, 24 Gift to Museum and SVSU Board of Control
Notes
From Jennifer Lentz (Collection Documentation Intern 1991-1992)
Memo dated July 30, 1991:
"RE: Friendly Frog
On July 26, 1991 I asked Molly if Fredericks specifically designed this as a slide for children and she said he did."
RESEARCH
The Friendly Frog has found a new home at Applewood! Purchased from the Children's Museum in late 2004, guests will find The Friendly Frog just inside the estate's Lot K entrance gate on a brand new "lily pad"! The smiling amphibian was created out of terrazzo and concrete by renowned sculptor Marshall Fredericks (1908-98). Working from studios in Royal Oak and Bloomfield, Fredericks left a rich legacy of famous pieces that include The Spirit of Detroit to mark a chief government building for that city, and Christ on the Cross at Indian River. A bronze replica of The Friendly Frog is on view at Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. A cast of the frog is owned by the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum at Saginaw Valley State University.
The Friendly Frog's first home was the Genesee Valley Shopping Center, which commissioned it in 1970 near the time of its opening. The frog's richly textured surface and gracefully slanted back naturally invite climbing and sliding. Children strolling through Genesee Valley found it irresistible, but eventually the shopping mall decided to part with it. In 1986, Genesee Valley turned the frog over to the Children's Museum, then housed at the North Bank Center in downtown Flint. The museum was able to put it on exhibit there, introducing it to a new generation of children. But when the Children's Museum moved to its current quarters at 1602 West Third Avenue, the staff was advised that the floor would not sustain the weight. Carefully stored by Hank Frazzles at C & S Motors since 1993, the sculpture was brought to Applewood in 2004. The Friendly Frog quickly became a favorite spot for photographs and brought back many fond memories for visitors. Its new "pad" includes a colorful slip-resistant surface, water features, seating and pots of beautiful flowers. Be sure to bring the little ones in your life to Applewood this summer to meet The Friendly Frog, join The Friendly Frog Fan Club and create new memories!
29 March 1990
TO: File
FROM: Michael W. Panhorst, Director
Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Gallery
RE: THE FRIENDLY FROG
The terrazzo cast of the frog is now at The Children's Museum in Flint--not at the Sloan Museum.
The Children's Museum received the frog about six years ago (i.e., 1984). According to an individual at the museum, the Genesee Valley Mall was redecorating and that is why the frog was removed. The museum also indicated that the frog weighed about 5,000 pounds.
The frog is now displayed in an exhibit area and children are allowed to climb on it. It is one of the children's favorite things.
Molly Barth copy:
The next plaster model is the original model for the Friendly Frog.[date/] This was cast in terrazzo, a synthetic marble made of chips of marble that are mixed with a clear resin that hardens. Then, it is highly polished just like marble or granite. It was located at the Genesee Valley Shopping Center in Flint until just recently when it was moved to the Children's Museum in Flint. It was quite a sight to see as it travelled down I-75 on the flatbed of a semi-truck. The terrazzo cast has gold-plated just like this plaster model does. Children would slide down it at the mall and still do at the Children's Museum. I even remember sliding down it a long time ago.
Memo dated July 30, 1991:
"RE: Friendly Frog
On July 26, 1991 I asked Molly if Fredericks specifically designed this as a slide for children and she said he did."
RESEARCH
The Friendly Frog has found a new home at Applewood! Purchased from the Children's Museum in late 2004, guests will find The Friendly Frog just inside the estate's Lot K entrance gate on a brand new "lily pad"! The smiling amphibian was created out of terrazzo and concrete by renowned sculptor Marshall Fredericks (1908-98). Working from studios in Royal Oak and Bloomfield, Fredericks left a rich legacy of famous pieces that include The Spirit of Detroit to mark a chief government building for that city, and Christ on the Cross at Indian River. A bronze replica of The Friendly Frog is on view at Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. A cast of the frog is owned by the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum at Saginaw Valley State University.
The Friendly Frog's first home was the Genesee Valley Shopping Center, which commissioned it in 1970 near the time of its opening. The frog's richly textured surface and gracefully slanted back naturally invite climbing and sliding. Children strolling through Genesee Valley found it irresistible, but eventually the shopping mall decided to part with it. In 1986, Genesee Valley turned the frog over to the Children's Museum, then housed at the North Bank Center in downtown Flint. The museum was able to put it on exhibit there, introducing it to a new generation of children. But when the Children's Museum moved to its current quarters at 1602 West Third Avenue, the staff was advised that the floor would not sustain the weight. Carefully stored by Hank Frazzles at C & S Motors since 1993, the sculpture was brought to Applewood in 2004. The Friendly Frog quickly became a favorite spot for photographs and brought back many fond memories for visitors. Its new "pad" includes a colorful slip-resistant surface, water features, seating and pots of beautiful flowers. Be sure to bring the little ones in your life to Applewood this summer to meet The Friendly Frog, join The Friendly Frog Fan Club and create new memories!
29 March 1990
TO: File
FROM: Michael W. Panhorst, Director
Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Gallery
RE: THE FRIENDLY FROG
The terrazzo cast of the frog is now at The Children's Museum in Flint--not at the Sloan Museum.
The Children's Museum received the frog about six years ago (i.e., 1984). According to an individual at the museum, the Genesee Valley Mall was redecorating and that is why the frog was removed. The museum also indicated that the frog weighed about 5,000 pounds.
The frog is now displayed in an exhibit area and children are allowed to climb on it. It is one of the children's favorite things.
Molly Barth copy:
The next plaster model is the original model for the Friendly Frog.[date/] This was cast in terrazzo, a synthetic marble made of chips of marble that are mixed with a clear resin that hardens. Then, it is highly polished just like marble or granite. It was located at the Genesee Valley Shopping Center in Flint until just recently when it was moved to the Children's Museum in Flint. It was quite a sight to see as it travelled down I-75 on the flatbed of a semi-truck. The terrazzo cast has gold-plated just like this plaster model does. Children would slide down it at the mall and still do at the Children's Museum. I even remember sliding down it a long time ago.
Files
Citation
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998, “Friendly Frog [Plaster],” Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, accessed April 20, 2024, https://omeka.svsu.edu/items/show/5097.