The Spirit of Detroit
TITLE: “The Spirit of Detroit”
ARTIST: Marshall Fredericks
DATE: 1958
WHY WE CHOSE IT: Happy 311th birthday, Motown! The city of Detroit was founded on July 24, 1701, by French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac.
Considered a symbol of Detroit, the 26-foot-tall “Spirit” statue (located in front of the city’s Coleman A. Young Municipal Center) represents the universal spirit of man. The bronze statue, nicknamed the “Jolly Green Giant,” holds a sphere with rays in his left hand, representing God, and a family group of three figures in his right hand, representing all human relationships.
SOURCE: Smithsonian American Art Museum
