Aluminum sculpture--20th century Figure sculpture, American--20th century. Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998 Outdoor sculpture--United States. Public sculpture, American Saginaw Valley State University. Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
The faÃ§ade of the New Dallas Public Library contained an 880-pound, 20 foot high aluminum sculpture by Marshall Fredericks entitled "Youth in the Hands of God." Symbolizing "the hands of God supporting youth reaching for learning through the medium of literature," the $12,000 relief sculpture depicted two hands lifting a boy wearing blue jeans. The library planned to take the sculpture with them to the new building, but it remained on the empty building for several years. In 1993 the sculpture was sold and now resides at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum at Saginaw Valley State University.
Marshall M. Fredericks Papers Series V, Box 24 Folder 29
Use of this image requires permission from the Marshall M. Fredericks Archives.
"Youth in the Hands of God" during its installation at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
"Youth in the Hands of God" illuminated at night on the faÃ§ade of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
"Youth in the Hands of God" is hoisted into the air at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
"Youth in the Hands of God" is installed at the New Dallas Public Library
Aluminum sculpture--20th century Figure sculpture, American--20th century. Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Marshall M. Fredericks Papers Series V, Box 24 Folder 26
"Youth in the Hands of God" on a flatbed truck prior to installation
"Youth in the Hands of God" on the faÃ§ade of New Dallas Public Library
Aluminum sculpture--20th century Figure sculpture, American--20th century. Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998 Outdoor sculpture--United States. Public sculpture, American
Marshall M. Fredericks Papers Series V, Box 24 Folder 27
"Youth in the Hands of God" prior to installation
1/3 scale bronze casting of "Freedom of the Human Spirit" with bronze head from "Black Elk: Homage to the Great Spirit" in the foreground
Animal sculpture--20th century. Black Elk, 1863-1950. Bronze sculpture, American--20th century. Figure sculpture, American--20th century. Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998 Outdoor sculpture--United States.
The businessmen backers of the 1964-65 New York Worldâ€™s Fair aspired to produce an economic boom for the city that would rival the hugely successful New York Worldâ€™s Fair of 1939-40 that brought more than 44 million visitors to the city. Many of these planners, kids during the â€™39-40 Fair, hoped that the experience would be as memorable for their children and families has it had been for them. Dedicated to â€œManâ€™s Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe,â€ the Fairâ€™s theme was â€œPeace through Understanding.â€ The Fairâ€™s Sculpture Committee requested that Marshall Fredericks submit a proposal for a sculpture to be included at the event. Fredericks submitted several sketches and the Committee selected a sketch of two figures with swans. Originally the figures in the sketch had wings, but the review panel requested that Fredericks remove them in the final sculpture. According to the artist, the sculpture â€œdepicts human figures as if soaring in migratory flights with huge swans, an ancient symbol of eternal life.â€ One of four major sculptures at the Fair, the sculpture stood in the Court of States at the entrance of the U S Government Pavilion. This marked the second time Fredericks contributed a sculpture to a New York Worldâ€™s Fair, as he previously exhibited a fountain at the 1939 Fair. The Freedom of the Human Spirit still stands at its original location in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens borough. In 1983, Fredericks donated the design for this sculpture to his adopted hometown of Birmingham, Michigan in honor of the cityâ€™s fiftieth anniversary. Erected in Shain Park, the city financed the sculpture through generous donations from over one thousand individuals and corporations. In 2009, the city of Birmingham renovated the park and relocated the sculpture to an area in the center of the park. A small-scale casting of Freedom of the Human Spirit also serves as the annual Communications Award for the International Center for the Disabled (ICD), an organization of which Fredericks was a longtime benefactor.
Marshall M. Fredericks Papers Series II, Box 14, Folder 12
Automobiles--Radiator ornaments. Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
During the 1950s, Fredericks worked with automobile companies, designing hood ornaments for Chrysler Motors, General Motors Corporation, and Studebaker-Packard Corporation.
Marshall M. Fredericks Papers Series V, Box 14 Folder 26