Dedicated November 28, 1998
In the spring of 1995, Ruth Duckworth visited the campus of Lewis and Clark Community College to start research for her upcoming sculpture commission. Internationally known for her work in ceramics, this was to be her second major commission in bronze. During her visit, she toured the area overlooking the Mississippi River and observed the devastation from the “Great Flood of 1993." She was taken by the elegance of the white egrets standing amidst the destruction scattered along the banks of the river. The elegant white birds reminded her of the power and majesty of nature as it re-connects with its historic floodplains. As she toured the area, the egrets became symbolic of the “spirit of survival” in nature and humanity. With that in mind, she created the
design proposal for the sculpture "Spirit of Survival."
Standing 13 feet tall, "Spirit of Survival" was the largest of her outdoor bronze sculptures. Having the opportunity to work on this scale gave her great joy. She stated, “It was exciting to work on this piece. It is like a child growing up, leaving home and becoming independent. It’s happy here. I like it.”
Over the course of several years, while working on this commission, Duckworth established a special relationship with Lewis and Clark Community College. As a result of her visits, the college established a Ruth Duckworth scholarship in ceramics to support students studying ceramic arts. In addition, her entire library of art books was donated to the college, and two additional ceramic wall sculptures were added to the college’s permanent art collection. These works of art are on permanent display in the atrium of the McPike Math and Science Complex.
Ruth Duckworth began working in large scale bronze sculpture at age 71. In the course of the later phase of her career, she created three additional large bronze sculptures, "the Guardian," at the Rockford Office Building in Rockford, "Serenity" at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago and "Attendant Spirit" at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Ill.
"Spirit of Survival" was commissioned through the Art-in-Architecture Program of the State of Illinois Capital Development Board with additional support from the Olin Corporation and the Lewis and Clark Community College Foundation.
Ruth Duckworth is a German artist, born in 1919.
