Esoteric Survey

Fresno County Courthouse. 
There are so many great examples of mid-century modern architecture in the Downtown Fresno area.  The government and business leaders of that era did a commendable job of investing in the infrastructure, art and  architecture of their city.  They were really ahead of the curve back then.
Stan Bitters ceramic mural on the Midland Savings & Loan building by Architect Eugene E. Hougham

Hey, what happened to that fountain?  The building is now a law office, figures.

Bitters '66
I'm not sure what's going on with the construction at the Pilibos Building at 830 Van Ness Ave. Stan Bitters/Hans Sumpf did the facade.  There is an image pre-plywood here.   Thankfully the building is onthe Local Register of Historic Resources so they can't mess with it too much. Here's the paperwork and background data.
Van Ness is the street adjacent to the Fulton Mall, where people are talking about doing some really lame stuff. More on that later.  In the meantime watch th…

Jan de Swart clock tower
Claire Falkenstein
Stan Bitters
Another dry Bitters fountain
Gordon Newell
Peter Voulkos

Stan Bitters cast bronze doors, entrance to the Soroyan Theater, Fesno 

Bitters 1966
The knobs

Soroyan Theater
Stan in Front of his 12' x 25' doors
Stan Bitters for Hans Sumpf ceramic tiles at 830 Van Ness
Bitters fountain at the Fulton Mall It's good to see some water flowing. The last time I was there all the fountains were dry. There also seems to be a decrease in vacant storefronts and more people milling around. 

Read about Victor Gruen, the developer of the Fulton Mall, here.  Save the Fulton Mall here.

Jan de Swart Exhibition Catalog, 1963 Source: Jan de Swart
Jan de Swart Exhibition Catalog, 1963 Source: Jan de Swart
Top shelf sculpture from Sam Kaufman. Seriously, look at the photo above. It looks like the same sculpture on  the top shelf towards the left. 
Another good one from Fat Chance

Fulton Mall Clock Tower Designers West, 1974: Jan de Swart
Fulton Mall Clock Tower, 2010 This place needs some work and these people are trying to do it:  Save the Fulton Mall More Fulton Mall here

Stan Bitters
Claire Falkenstein
Bernard Rosenthal
Peter Voulkos
Stan Bitters
Jan de Swart
Stan Bitters Tiles
Stan Bitters Tiles Detail

Eckbo Design- Via Save the Fulton Mall