The plaster model for "Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer Observing Riverboats and Giant Catfish" for "Spirit of Kentucky"

The plaster model for "Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer Observing Riverboats and Giant Catfish" for "Spirit of Kentucky"

Animal sculpture--20th century.
Artists' studios--United States.
Figure sculpture, American--20th century.
Finn, Huckleberry (Fictitious character)
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Sawyer, Tom (Fictitious character)

Collectively titled the Spirit of Kentucky, Barry Bingham, editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal commissioned Fredericks to design reliefs for their new building.

After Fredericks received the commission he reportedly traveled through Kentucky to get the essence of the ‘spirit of Kentucky’ for himself. Fredericks’ intent for the project was for, “children to be able to understand and enjoy, and see something different about it each time they saw it again.”

Cast in bronze and placed on a black granite surface above the tall recessed entrance, the free-form shapes and angular composition use the height of the area to point toward the dream of the settlers.

Marshall M. Fredericks Papers
Series V, Box 20 Folder 29

n.d.

Use of this image requires permission from the Marshall M. Fredericks Archives.

V-20-29

image/jpeg

Image

Royal Oak (Mich.)

Black and white print

8" x 10"