Marshall Fredericks

Marshall Maynard Fredericks (January 31, 1908 – April 4, 1998) was an American sculptor known for such works as Fountain of Eternal Life, The Spirit of Detroit, Man and the Expanding Universe Fountain, and many others.

Fredericks was born of Scandinavian descent in Rock Island, Illinois, on January 31, 1908.

His family moved to Florida for a short time and then settled in Cleveland, where he grew-up.

He graduated from the Cleveland School of Art in 1930 and journeyed abroad on a fellowship to study with Carl Milles (1875–1955) in Sweden.

After some months he studied in other academies and private studios in Denmark, Germany, France, and Italy, and traveled extensively in Europe and North Africa.

In 1932, Milles invited him to join the staffs of Cranbrook Academy of Art and Cranbrook and Kingswood School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where he taught until he enlisted in the armed forces in 1942.

In 1936, Fredericks won a competition to create the Levi L. Barbour Memorial Fountain on Belle Isle in Detroit.

This was to be the first of many public monuments created by Fredericks.

After World War II, the sculptor worked continuously on his numerous commissions for fountains, memorials, free-standing sculptures, reliefs, and portraits in bronze and other materials.

Many of his works have spiritual intensity, lighthearted humor and a warm and gentle humanist spirit like that found in Fredericks himself.

Fredericks was the recipient of many U.S. and foreign awards and decorations for his artistic and humanitarian achievements.

He exhibited his work nationally and internationally and many of his works are in national, civic, and private collections.

In 1945, Fredericks was honorably discharged from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel.

When it opened in 1954, Northland was the country's largest shopping center as well as the first regional shopping center.

The architects planned for sculpture to play an important role in the shopping center's courts and malls.

Fredericks designed this sculpture with children in mind.

As with his other large animal sculptures, he gave the bear a benevolent quality so it would not frighten children.

This bear could be a child's best friend.

The contrast of the massive body of the bear with the almost frail body of the boy on his back emphasizes this special relationship.

The bear's head is down, communicating only amicable intentions.

Its erect ears and furrowed brow suggest interest in a viewer at this low eye level.

Fredericks' portrayal of the bear is not totally realistic, but like several of his animal sculptures, he portrayed the bear as in a child's imagination.

In 1955, Fredericks created the Wayne County seal, which is still used today and is also featured on the county's flag.

He designed the seal while making the Spirit of Detroit statue, as a seal was part of the work and the county did not have a seal at the time.

In 1957, Fredericks was elected into the National Academy of Design as an Associate member, and became a full Academician in 1961.

The Cleveland War Memorial Fountain: Peace Arising from the Flames of War, also known as the Fountain of Eternal Life was installed on The Mall in Downtown Cleveland to commemorate those who served in World War II.

It bears the inscription, "IN HONORED MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY".

The work was 20 years in the making and was dedicated on May 31, 1964.

Four groups in Norwegian emerald pearl granite, each 4 by, represent the religious aspirations from all over the globe that are the foundation for the soaring figure that represents eternal life.

The figure was cast in Norway, where also the granite groups were carved.

The globe under the figure was cast in Brooklyn, New York.

The four groups represent the four "corners" of the Earth from which come the major religions, which in turn gave birth to the idea of eternal life, here represented by the human figure in the center of the sculpture.

Fredericks was one of six artists commissioned to design sculpture for Northland Shopping Center in Southfield, Michigan.

Despite similarities between this sculpture and the characters in Walt Disney's 1967 film The Jungle Book, Fredericks disavowed any influence from Disney, The Jungle Book, originally published in 1894, or its author, Rudyard Kipling.

Fredericks said that he simply wanted to make a sculpture of a boy and bear because it would be fun.

On display at the Fredricks Sculpture Gallery is an earlier version of this sculpture in bronze.

A similar casting is on display in the children's room of the Grosse Pointe Public Library and at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

Fredericks was commissioned to sculpt a 6 ft crucifix, but instead designed this 28 ft, full-scale model, for a bronze to be placed at the Indian River Catholic Shrine in Indian River, Michigan.

The sculpture at Northland pleased children and adults alike from the day it was first installed until the center closed in 2015.

In 2016, the city of Southfield purchased the center and moved the sculpture to the lobby of the Southfield Public Library.