Indian and Wild Swans [Plaster]

Indian and Wild Swans [Plaster]

Figure sculpture, American--20th century
Animal sculpture--20th century

INDIAN AND WILD SWANS, 1964
Maquette

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1994.068

This presentation model seen in the case was made in 1962, for the building committee of the Milwaukee Public Museum shows Fredericks' design for a monumental Indian and four wild swans commissioned for the facade of the new museum building. The small maquette illustrates the whole composition. The large Indian provides a more detailed representation of the main figure. The forms and textures of the model were not reproduced precisely in the full-size sculpture, as can be seen by comparison with the plaster of the enlarged Indian on the east wall of the Museum, but the presentation model served its purpose of communicating the preliminary design to the architects and owners of the building. The sculpture group was installed in December 1963, but the dedication didn't occur until 1964.

Fredericks stated of the design, that the swans, "complement the simple surface (of the wall) with just the right dignified accent…(they are) stylized, artistic representations of the natural swan (having worked) with numerous studies from live specimens."

The actual title according to Fredericks is "Algonquian Indian and (Whistling) Swans". Fredericks states that this work symbolizes the freedom and beauty of nature in the Great Lakes area.

Each of the four swans in the completed bronze commission weighs about ½ ton and the Indian weighs just over a ton. Only one swan appears in the museum because of space constrictions.

Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998

1964

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

Sculpture

University Center (Mich.)

Indian 192" h
Swan 108" x 96"

Plaster full-scale

1991.112

Main Exhibit Gallery

1987 July, 1 Gift to Museum and SVSU Board of Control

Bronze was cast by Bedi-Rassy Art Foundry


From Jennifer Lentz (Collection Documentation Intern 1991-1992)
Memo dated April 3, 1992

"RE: Indian and Wild Swans

The cast on the exterior of the Milwaukee Public Museum is mounted on white Georgian marble. It was cast by the Bedi-Rassy Art Foundry."

MF archives:
Sculpture located at Milwaukee Public Museum on façade of building in bronze.
One swan appears in our museum because of space constrictions but there are four swans in formation.

The actual title according to Fredericks is "Algonquian Indian and (Whistling) Swans". Fredericks states that this work symbolizes the freedom and beauty of nature in the Great Lakes Area.

Image symbols:
Algonquian: North American Native American tribe formerly found along the Ottawa River and Northern tributaries of the St. Lawrence.
Swan (whistling): Native to America, its scientific name is Cyghus Columbianus. Folklore states that Native Americans would not eat the flesh of the swan because it was destined to carry the soul of the dead into eternity.
Four: The number four in Native American culture symbolizes balance and harmony.

Molly Barth copy:
The next relief on the wall, the next plaster relief is titled, "The Milwaukee Indian and Four Wild Swans," and they're located on the Milwaukee Public Museum, The Natural History Museum, and of course, we just have the one swan here, but they span an area of 36 feet. These plaster models are the full size of the bronzes that are located on the facade of the building there. You'll notice that the Indian isn't shooting an arrow at the swan, his bow is turned the opposite direction. To the Indians, the swan is the symbol of eternal life, they believe when they die, their spirit flies up on the back of the swan to the Great Spirit, so you really get the feeling, the way the hands are outreached, that the swan is a spiritual symbol to the Indian.

From Archives, written by Melissa Ford:
Marshall Fredericks frequently used the figure of a swan in his sculptures. Many cultures feature swans in their mythology and folklore. Swans have come to symbolize fidelity and purity and are associated with music, poetry and divination. Fredericks often employed the swan as a symbol of resurrection and eternal life in his sculptures. Wings of the Morning, Freedom of the Human Spirit, and Indian and Wilds Swans as well as several other works feature swans.
It seems that Fredericks' possessed a deep love and appreciation for these beautiful and graceful creatures. Besides sculpting swans, Fredericks played an integral role in a swan nesting project during the 1960s. As a civic gesture to his hometown of Birmingham, Michigan, Fredericks presented two pairs of swans to the city. The Australian Black and White Mute swans made their home in Quarton Lake located in the heart of the city. Unfortunately, several of the birds did not fare well in their new surroundings had to be replaced by the city of Birmingham.
During the 1970s, in order to protect the swans and encourage nesting, the parks department constructed a bird sanctuary in the middle of the lake. This tiny floating island, constructed of several government surplus "life rafts", was approximately thirty-five feet in diameter and covered in a vegetative screen of wild grasses and rushes. Each winter, the swans would be removed from the lake and provided with shelter by the parks department until spring when they would return to the water. The swans would then spend the rest of spring, summer and early fall on Quarton Lake being enjoyed by passing residents and visitors.
As Fredericks' home in Birmingham overlooked Quarton Lake, it is quite plausible that one of these birds served as a real life inspiration for the swans often found in Marshall Fredericks' work.