Esoteric Survey

I took a trip up Highway 99 and stopped in Fresno again.  This is a sore topic around here. Although I drive down Fulton Street every time I'm in Fresno,  I haven't posted about it since  2016 .  Over the years  I've done many posts about the mall. The first was in  2010 .  The Fulton Mall in 1967 For a recap, in the mid-1950s Downtown Fresno merchants and city officials were looking for ways to revitalize the central business district. They hired Victor Gruen to create a visionary plan. With the help of legendary landscape architect Garrett Eckbo, they  created a grand pedestrian orientated design that linked the six-block business district to the civic center.  The Fulton Mall opened in 1964 (Happy 60th Anniversary) and was a nationally-recognized success, both commercially and in terms of design. The art at the Fulton Mall included 20 sculptures by artists  found in major museum collections. This includes large sculptures by Claire Fa...

Jan de Swart Soleri, David Cressey ashtray, Kay Bojesen, Dean Santner and another Steve Salisian weed pot More iron, including an Inco stool

A Cinco de Mayo celebration was held this past weekend at the Fulton Mall in Fresno.   This comes as the City of Fresno is going ahead with plans to rip up the art-filled pedestrian mall. According to an article in the Fresno Bee , "A general contractor to oversee the $20 million project should be selected by late summer. The first chunks of mall concrete could be flying by the fall." See the City's anti-environmental and backwards thinking plan here . Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/2015/04/25/4494432_city-hall-officials-full-speed.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy It's bittersweet to see so many people enjoying the mall. Cars could be taking over soon. The vacant  Luftenburg's Bridal  has now been replaced with 3 Hermanos furniture. Still no Falkenstein Peter Voulkos bench Stan Bitters jungle gym See past posts here . Visit  Save the Fulton Mall  for more information.

Earlier  this month I stopped off at the Fulton Mall again.  I was on the way back from the Stan Bitters: Modern Primitive show at  Heath in San Francisc o . It's sad that in San Francisco they're honoring Stan's work and in his hometown of Fresno, the city is leaving it in a state of disrepair and are actually working to rip it out. On March 28th a coalition associated with the 1000 Friends of Fresno filed a lawsuit in Fresno County Superior Court. The coalition, called the Downtown Fresno Coalition, challenges the City Council’s certification of an Environmental Impact Report on the proposed Fulton Mall Reconstruction Project.  Read about the lawsuit filed to stop the destruction of the mall,  here .   The court date is set for October and in the words of Stan Bitters.... The litigation has only begun and we need your continued help raising funds to see us through the legal process. Donate here Another dry Bitters fountain....

Stan Bitters quote from back in the day. It still holds true.  Time is running out to show your support for modern art, architecture, and historic preservation.  The City's plan is not only a waste of tax dollars, but is also based on outdated planning principles.  Please donate to put a stop to the destruction of  The Fulton Mall in Downtown Fresno . The 1000 Friends of Fresno is filing a lawsuit against the City of Fresno. For this to happen, they need to raise $25,000. They are more than halfway to their goal, but they need your help. Donate   here . Stan is leading the charge to save The Fulton Mall.  He says... " If we don't act fast, the mall is kaput." Source:  Environmental Ceramics If he were still around, Peter Voulkos would be opening up a can of whoop-ass on the City of Fresno. Big A , Peter Voulkos  Under the City's preferred option,17 of the 20 existing sculptures would be relocated. There ...