I finally remembered my camera to photograph the sculptures of Stan Bitters. These monolithic ceramic sculptures were done in the 1970s by the California sculptor. They grace the facade of the Duncan Enterprises headquarters building facing Shields Avenue in Fresno.
The sculptures are amazing just because of their shear size. Some are 14 feet wide and 22 feet tall. When I think of how Bitters made all the textures, patterns, and glazes match, it is truly mind boggling, not to mention the number of pieces needed to complete each sculpture.
Each of the sculptures has a light mounted in front on the ground. I would love to drive by the building at night to see the sculptures all lit.
I love the use of primary colors and the textured surfaces. The deceivingly simple shapes are modern yet classic.
I wasn't able to take most of the photos straight on due to all the cars parked there during the day. Hope you enjoy them.
Wow! Those are amazing. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing! WOW is right.
ReplyDeleteThose are wonderful- I was going to say amazing too- but they are amazingly wonderful!
ReplyDeleteok BIG.....cool pictures!
ReplyDeleteHi Miri, Judy, Meredith and Mary, yes they are amazing and cool too, what an inspiration someone from the 1970s can be to us now. I guess he is still making sculptures throughout the country.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda,
ReplyDeleteThose who live on the flat need mountains. People that live on a hill, need the sea. Those who journey by sea, need dry land. It is so good to be able to see ceramic work that is Enormous! It shows that so much more is always possible. That great red slab reminds me of a visit we made to the Tate Gallery in London, where we saw, or should I say experienced, large abstract works by Mark Rothko. Thanks for the photos, I also enjoyed visiting Stan Bitters web site via the link you thoughtfully provided.
(How's that back of yours, by-the-way? I do hope it is much better now than it was earlier in the month. All the Best to you, P.
Hi Peter, yes it is inspiring to see work this large, it makes me feel the same way, that anything is possible, especially since did these in 1970s. I will have to look up Mark Rothko to see if I can find anything on the web.
ReplyDeleteThanks for asking about my back which is slowly getting better. We do need to sell this place since I have so much to take care of this time of year since Gary is away at work. Gary tried to keep up and said he didn't know how I did it, then his back started to give way - we aren't getting any younger. This summer is even drier than the last two since it is the third year of drought. We just took out five flower beds, one section of lavender and the vegetables by stopping water and weedeating them down since I just couldn't keep up with them any longer. This has reduced the hours I have to work watering. Sometimes painful things must be done. The trees, herb gardens and fruit trees don't have to be watered as often. Hopefully we'll stay under 100 F the rest of the season. Ha!
Goodness Linda, 100 degrees F...., my cold winter's mind boggles! We are expecting snow tomorrow! It is hard to start to have to scale some things back and the decision to take out flower beds that you have tended must be sad to have to make. Hope you get good news soon about selling your house. All the Best to You and Gary, P.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about the kiln for these, it would have to be hugh but than I saw a close up and it looks like tile work? So do you think he fired it in pieces? Side note, market is fragile but moving here in Colorado so it will!
ReplyDeleteHi Peter, yes it is strange that you are cold and we are warm. There just aren't many lookers right now, the polls say folks are afraid to purchase right now for fear of loosing their homes. California is always hit last during each recession and the last to come out of it, hopefully soon.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, if you look at his website he did other sculptures that would have needed a very large kiln, but these are done like tiles in pieces, they do appear as one though. See not about California selling market above - hopefully soon.
I am late on parade with your latest posting. These pieces are absolutely stunning, I have poured over Stan Bitters website (what a great name) for about 40 minutes. I have down loaded all your photographs and even made one of them my new screen saver. Thanks so much Linda for sharing this one with us I can’t tell you what an inspiration it has been.
ReplyDeletenice pieces, mr. bitters is definitely off on another level somewhere. some very cool work
ReplyDeleteHi Kitty, yes, these are so nice. (Oh I did see on his website he has written a book that can be purchased about his art - under sales). I see where you would like theses pieces as your work with colors especially your recent test panels. The name of Bitters reminded me of what is added to a drink. I bet he took some flack for his name. The round pieces have inspired me and the textures. They are impressive when driving by them on the road, but now that I have the photos to admire they have inspired me in a different way.
ReplyDeleteI was reading about Peter's note that this work reminded him of the Rothko paintings he saw in England last night and I was intrigued by the fact that Rothko encouraged viewers of his work to get up very close to the paintings which is so out of the norm for oils - I see what he meant, of experiencing the colors and being enveloped by his paintings and one could probably feel this same way in front of one of Bitter's solid color panels. Next time I go up to Fresno I must make a point of going either early or late to re-experience these again when their is less traffic around.
Hi Jim, yes he is on a different plane for sure. Curiously I drove by one of his water fountains in Fresno another time and was impressed by it but didn't know till I saw Bitters' website that he was also the artist for that piece too. Next time I go up there I must drive by the fountain to take a photo of it too.
Thanks so much for sharing, it seems so infrequent to run across large scale public ceramic work. Love all the texture, pattern and colors.
ReplyDeleteI visited the Centre Pompidou in Paris last month and got up close and personal with a Rothko - but was more tickled by a traveling Calder exhibit. We weren't allowed to take photos inside the museum - it was fantastic! Even my daughter loved it...
Hi Cynthia, I guess Bitters has done quite a few large scale pieces throughout California. One thing ceramics artists could promote is it's longevity and lack of maintenance - wonder what the comparison would be between ceramics works and say metal or stone. I am surprised the colors on these pieces have not faded due to the sun. Calder is another sculptor who did amazing work especially his wire sculptures and some of his large scale pieces too - how fun. I can see where Rothko would seem somber and bland in comparison, but each useful in their own right.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lot of work went into each of these pieces. They really look like they match the climate. I love the close-up pictures where you can really see his process.
ReplyDeleteHi Barbara, I too was amazed by the closeups and how he had to match each design and texture from tile to tile, I am still in awe.
ReplyDelete