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...

I haven't heard all that much about the Brooklyn Museum (although they are getting some flack as of late). In fact, a few people who live in New York mentioned they have never been to the museum when I posted some pictures on Instagram. It was well worth the trip. Museum Spotlight: Mid-Century Decorative Arts and Design is a current exhibition taking place. There are many examples by designers you would expect, like Eames and Nelson. However, as you'll see, the museum's collection is pretty interesting and includes a wide range of more obscure names. The age old question. Natzler Aalto, Eames and Mollino Japanese Modern:  Ubunji Kidokoro and Sori Yanagi. Kind of a missed opportunity not to display the Aalto next to the Kidokoro chair if you ask me. After all, that's what Perriand did.  More about that here .  Gerrit Rietveld The POMO and Contemporary section Sottsass There is an Art Deco room you can peer into.  My favorite part of the museum is the Luce Visible S...

I was finally able to get my hands on a Giraffe family by Malcolm Moran  (1923 - 2011). In the original box from Hudson's! They were the anchor tenant and the company who hired Victor Gruen to design the  Northland Shopping Center Northland Shopping Center  (1954) by Victor Gruen. Located in Southfield, MI, a Detroit suburb. At the time, it was the largest shopping center in the country. Alvin Lustig collaborated with Gruen on the identity and signage. A number of artists were commissioned to do sculpture for the center.  Besides Moran, there was Marshall Fredericks, Joseph Anthony McDonnell, and Lily Saarinen (Eero's wife). Source: Victor Gruen and Associates The original Moran sculptures in bronze stood 25 feet high. Image: Life Magazine Hudson's offered dainty mementos for sale at the mall. Source: Detroit Free Press, 1954 Me too Billy, me too. Source: Detroit Free Press, 1954 Source: Architectural Forum 1961 Source: Detroit Public Library A fish sculpture by...