View of the grounds at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation headquarters through a window

View of the grounds at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation headquarters through a window

Animal sculpture--20th century.
Bronze sculpture, American--20th century.
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Outdoor sculpture--United States.
W.K. Kellogg Foundation

On a simple granite pedestal sit two bronze geese as they take off into flight. Beneath their bodies, the tips of swamp rushes bend under the weight of the birds’ wings.

According to the sculptor, waterfowl are a symbol of eternal life and this sculpture symbolizes “the ascendancy of the soul no longer imprisoned by the body.”

This sculpture was selected for the new W.K. Kellogg Foundation headquarters because it was one of Fredericks's well-known creations, and also because it is a symbolic tie to W.K. Kellogg who had a great love of nature and created the Kellogg Waterfowl Bird Sanctuary in 1928 near his estate on Gull Lake, Michigan.

Found throughout the United States and the world, Flying Wild Geese is one of Marshall Fredericks’ most popular sculptures. Many corporations, universities, cultural institutions and private individuals have chosen one of these sculptures for their collections.

Unidentified photographer

Marshall M. Fredericks Papers
Series II, Box 12, Folder 19

circa 1992

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

II-12-19

image/jpeg

Image

Battle Creek (Mich.)

Color print

4" x 6"