The mission of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum is to perpetuate the artistic intent of Marshall M. Fredericks to “inspire and give happiness” through collecting, preserving, protecting, presenting, studying, and interpreting his life's work in a manner that will provide for the educational and cultural enrichment of all people.

Mrs. Dorothy (Honey) Arbury had studied with Mr. Fredericks when she attended Kingswood School at the Cranbrook Educational Community in Bloomfield Hills in the 1930s and knew him through her uncle Alden Dow, a prominent Midland architect with whom Fredericks worked on architectural sculpture projects. Honey was on the founding board of Control of Saginaw Valley College in 1963 and remained active on the board and/or the SVSU Foundation Board into the 1990s. Mr. and Mrs. Arbury and Mr. and Mrs. Fredericks generated the idea of a permanent exhibit of Fredericks' work adjacent to the new facilities for the art, music and theatre departments. SVSU and the Arburys worked together toward an agreement to have the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum built within the new facilities for the art, music, and theatre departments. The museum opened to the public in the new Arbury Fine Arts Center in May 1988. The gallery became a museum in 1999.

Located in the Arbury Fine Arts Center on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University. The university is easily accessible from I-75 and 5 minutes from MBS International Airport.

Admission

General admission is FREE.

Collection

A unique collection of hundreds of works that span the career of Marshall M. Fredericks (1908-1998), a traditional figurative sculptor, who remained active in his metro-Detroit studios until days before his death at age 90. He is known nationally and internationally for his monumental figurative sculpture, public memorials, public fountains, portraits, animals and whimsical animal figures. The museum, sculpture garden, and collection contain one of the most comprehensive collections of any single artist’s work in the world. The museum exhibit includes about 200 works, mostly plaster models, and the sculpture garden contains more than a dozen bronze casts of Fredericks’ sculptures. The museum holdings include plaster models, cast and carved sculptures, medals, jewelry, miniatures, drawings, photos, site models, molds, armatures, tools, machinery, and archival materials.

Museum highlights include: Christ on the Cross, Indian River, Michigan; The Fountain of Eternal Life, Cleveland, Ohio; The Expanding Universe Fountain, State Department, Washington, D.C.; The Freedom of the Human Spirit, Flushing Meadow Park, New York City; The Leaping Gazelle for The Levi Barbour Fountain, Belle Isle, Detroit; The Spirit of Detroit, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Detroit; and The Ford Empire and Harlequin Reliefs, Ford Auditorium, Detroit.

Tours

The museum offers guided tours to students and adults. Student tours are $1.00 per student. Some hands-on activities may have a nominal material fee. Adult tours of 12 or more persons are $3 per adult and $2 per senior. The minimum fee for an adult group tour is $50.

Visitor Amenities

Saginaw Valley State University: Contact admissions for a tour of the university at (989) 964-4200; Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum Gift Shop: Open during normal museum operating hours; Doan Café: Monday-Thursday: 7:15 am to 11:00 pm, Friday: 7:15 am to 9:30 pm, Saturday: 9:00 am to 9:30 pm, and Sunday: 9:00 am to 11:00 pm.

Photography

Photography of any kind is prohibited in the museum. Photography in the sculpture garden is permitted. Special photography requests can be reviewed by the Director.

Membership

All donors to “Friends of the Marshall Fredericks Sculpture Museum” receive notice of special events, 10% discount on items in the museum gift shop, and a subscription to the newsletter. To become a member, please contact the secretary at (989) 964-7082.

Accessibility

The museum facilities are fully accessible to physically challenged persons. The museum has a wheelchair.

Parking

There are free one hour parking places in front of the main entrance to the Arbury Fine Arts Center. Note: During the construction of the expansion to the museum, visitors can park in the J-lots for free on the campus. Construction will take place from November, 2001 to January, 2002.

Directions

Take exit 160 off I-75. Drive south on M-84 (Saginaw Rd. or Bay Rd.) for 3.2 miles to the main entrance of Saginaw Valley State University. Turn left into the main entrance of the university onto College Drive West. Follow College Drive West to the third road on the right called Fine Arts Drive. Turn right onto Fine Arts Drive and proceed to the front entrance of the Arbury Fine Arts Center. The museum is located to the left, inside the front entrance. Note: During construction of the museum addition turn right off College Drive West onto University Drive. Park in the J-lots on University Drive. You can access the Arbury Fine Arts Center through the Arbury service drive cul-de-sac.