Youth in the Hands of God
COnservation
Youth in the Hands of God is a 20 foot aluminum sculpture created by Marshall Fredericks in 1956. Originally designed for the black marble façade of the new Dallas Public Library, Youth in the Hands of God consists of a young boy clad in blue jeans held within the outstretched hands of God. In one hand, the boy holds a book while the other hand is extended in the quest of further knowledge. According to Fredericks, the relief "represents the hands of God supporting youth reaching for learning through the medium of literature". Fredericks used his own five children as models for the boy and stated that the boy epitomizes "the spirit of all young boys, healthy, vital, full of life and happiness". Installed in 1956, the polished aluminum design took one and half years to complete and stands twenty feet high. In 1982, the library moved to a new location within the city, leaving behind Youth in the Hands of God. After the building sat empty for several years, the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum negotiated with the city of Dallas to purchase the relief and transport it to Michigan. Since 1993, Youth on the Hands of God has hung on the Museum's exterior wall.
The sculpture has needed conservation for quite some time and finally, in 2021 funding from generous supporters and grants made it possible to begin the conservations process. In July of 2021 the sculpture will be reinstalled, and restored to its brilliant original state as it once was in 1956.
The sculpture has needed conservation for quite some time and finally, in 2021 funding from generous supporters and grants made it possible to begin the conservations process. In July of 2021 the sculpture will be reinstalled, and restored to its brilliant original state as it once was in 1956.
