Esoteric Survey

Duncan Ceramic Products in Fresno, by Stan Bitters, 1969
The large panel is 20' X 7'
This lady must be pretty short.  Source: Stan Bitters Brochure, Undated
Craft Geek





After and Before Source: Stan Bitters Brochure, Undated
Source: Stan Bitters Brochure, Undated
According to the price sheet below these were $8K a pop. That seems like a good deal.  Source: Stan Bitters Brochure, Undated
Source: Stan Bitters Brochure, Undated

Stan Bitters, 1969

Stan Bitters is still cranking out great work. If you need him to make your building the coolest place in town, the nice people at Ten10 can help you out.

Before: Fulton Street
After: Fulton Mall, 1965 Some people in Fresno would like to go back to the before picture. More about that, here.
Guarantee Fountain by Stan Bitters
Waterless fountain today 
Jan de Swart Clock Tower


Claire Falkenstein fountain
Claire Falkenstein fountain today- gone. More about that, here.
Stan Bitters fountain in 1965

The Fulton Mall is still very much in danger.  There is a group of people in Fresno who would rather have the city invest resources  into ripping the pedestrian mall and art out, over investing in proper maintenance and restoration of this important landmark. 
Keep up with the preservation efforts at Save the Fulton Mall
Related posts here, here, here and here
All black and white photos are from Arts & Architecture

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 and was a nationally-recognized success, both commercially and in terms of design.
The mall includes a pedestrian-only linear shopping center and a series of great public gathering spaces.   This is a concept that municipalities and private shopping center developers all over the world are currently spending  millions on to accomplish.  Save the Fulton Mall!!! is doing a great job of sharing these sort of developments.
The art at the Fulton Mall includes 20 sculptures by artists  found in major museum collections, like this 
Claire Falkenstein sculpture (1of 3 in the mall).  The art was initially funded by pr…

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…