“Little Village,” the unique arts and culture center in Detroit’s East Village neighborhood, is set to expand with the addition of the “Spirit of Detroit” Sculpture Studio.
This studio is an extension of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum located on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU). Fredericks was a renowned Detroit-based sculptor with over 150 public and corporate pieces on display worldwide. Locally, he is best known for “The Spirit of Detroit” statue located outside of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in downtown Detroit. His other works include the “Star Dream Fountain” in Royal Oak’s Barbara Hallman Plaza and “Man on the Cross” at Cross in the Woods in Indian River.
Details on the Location of the “Spirit of Detroit” Sculpture Studio
The studio will be inside Stanton Yards, a former boat marina across from Belle Isle. The “Spirit of Detroit” Sculpture Studio is part of a larger transformation of the marina that will feature various arts education opportunities for the surrounding community.
Stanton Yards is yet another facility of “Little Village.” The arts and culture attraction is home to The Shepherd, a former church that been transformed into an art gallery and workshop.
What Will the “Spirit of Detroit” Sculpture Studio Offer to the Community?
Fredericks was a champion of public art. He believed accessible art that reflected communities were great sources of pride for its citizens. With that in mind, one of the goals of the new studio is to encourage artists to collaborate with communities on new artworks for public display via an artist-in-residence program.
In a statement, Suzanne “Suki” Fredericks said, “Studies show that art, especially public art, is proven to benefit communities in many ways; we need to support the arts now, more than ever. My father would have loved this initiative.”
Other goals of the “Spirit of Detroit” Sculpture Studio include providing opportunities for high school students to earn college credits through SVSU’s Dual Enrollment Program. Additionally, the studio will offer various exhibits, live artist demonstrations, hands-on activities, and more.
How to Become Part of the Studio’s Legacy
Currently, the studio is in its early stages of funding and has a campaign goal of $4 million. Those interested in donating to the studio’s fundraising campaign, including executive seed-stage investment opportunities, can reach out to Vice President of Development Brian Brunner at (989) 964-2049 or bdbrunne@svsu.edu. Complete information on the “Spirit of Detroit” Sculpture Studio can be found at MarshallFredericks.org. Additional renderings of Stanton Yards are available in the gallery below.
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