Statues both large and small have become icons of cities and entire countries, showcasing the kind of impact that monuments can enable. The Spirit of Detroit has enabled that same impact for Detroit which has extended across the entire state of Michigan. The large bronze statue has been incorporated into countless aspects of the city while also being utilized to create a direct and indirect economic impact. The identity it has enabled for the Detroit community has had a notable impact on the “Motor City” as well as the rest of the region in multiple ways.
Representing Hope, Progress, and the “Spirit of Man.”
In 1955, Marshall Fredericks was commissioned by the Detroit-Wayne Joint Building Authority to create a sculpture for the city to represent hope, progress, and the “spirit of man.” The bronze was cast in Oslo, Norway, and covered with acid to oxidize the metal, giving it a green hue. However, Fredericks did not name the piece Spirit of Detroit. Its name came from the people of Detroit themselves, inspired by the biblical verse behind the figure, 2 Corinthians 3:17: “Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
The statue itself was designed to personify the thought conveyed by the inscription. It reflects in its conception the spirit underlying all human ideals, as well as the relationship of god to man. The scale and scope of the piece further showcases this symbolism, capturing the figure of humanity in truly monumentous proportions.
Dedicated in 1958, the Spirit of Detroit is located at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center on Woodward Avenue, which forms a direct route to other notable monuments and parks in the city. At the time it was built the 26-foot sculpture was reportedly the largest cast bronze statue since the Renaissance. The statue’s left hand grips a gilded sphere emanating rays that symbolizes divinity, while its right hand holds a family, which symbolizes all human relationships.
The city of Detroit almost immediately embraced the statue to the point that it has been used to identify various departments and elements of the community. However, that’s just one aspect of how it has come to impact the city.
An Icon for the Community
The impact of the Spirit of Detroit becoming an icon for the city can be seen in numerous ways. The small plaza in front of the statue has become one of the most photographed, and sometimes contested, sites in Detroit. Political protesters pose with their banners in front of the “Spirit.” Graduating seniors, families on holiday, servicemen and women on leave, and politicos seeking votes also use the space for their various needs and purposes, further cementing the impact it represents to the surrounding community.
The statue has shaped the identity of the community in direct ways as well. During the 1980s and 1990s, a representation of the Spirit of Detroit was featured on the sides of the Detroit Police Department’s police cars. The Spirit of Detroit has also appeared in political cartoons and commercial logos as well as within numerous notices and notifications from the city. Additionally, the statue is frequently dressed in sports jerseys when local professional teams are in the playoffs.
All of these developments have helped to create a positive impact on the city of Detroit that the city and businesses throughout the region have benefitted from.
A Direct and Indirect Economic Impact
The indirect economic impact of the Spirit of Detroit can be seen in the numerous coffee mugs, T-shirts and other items for sale on which it appears. Countless businesses have utilized the statue as part of their logo, highlighting the importance of the identity it has created for the city. This identity has helped businesses to further define their place in the community.
Events have been held near the statue, including the 60th anniversary of the Spirit of Detroit, which doubled as a party and fund-raiser for the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum. Tickets for the event were available in two tiers and provided the museum with a powerful means of direct revenue. That direct revenue ties back into how the statue is connected to the community. Due to concern over damage to the statue, it will only wear a jersey if the team wins a national championship, and $25,000 is donated to the maintenance and preservation of the statue.
This direct and indirect economic impact stems from the identity the statue has enabled for the city which changes and evolves based on the times and audience, further highlighting the significance monuments can have on the present and future of an entire community.
The Many Meanings of the Spirit of Detroit
Located within the direct vicinity of Hart’s Plaza and the many monuments it contains, the Spirit of Detroit has become synonymous with Detroit itself. It means many things to many people across the city, allowing residents and visitors to create their own definitions around the identity that it represents for Detroit. Those definitions have tied the community closer together while also enabling countless economic benefits that will continue to redefine the reputation of the city.
