Public art enriches the quaility of life of a community, as we encouter outstanding works of art by local and national artists in our everyday routine. But what are the stories behind these pieces, and their creators? That's what we aim to find out with the Public Art Project Radio Series on 90.7 KFSR.
Support for the Public Art Project radio series comes in part from a grant from the Community Enrichment Program, administered by the Fresno Arts Council.
Artist and author Larry Hill has been a force on the Valley arts scene since the 1950's. A Fresno State graduate, Hill was the first Fresno artist to do large scale abstract expressionist painting. He currently runs the Scene Gallery in Fresno's Park Place Shopping Center at Palm and Nees. He is also an award winning writer. His latest book "Saroyan's Bookie" was published in 2008 by Big Valley Press. In this interview we talk about his career in both the visual and literary arts, his brushes with names like Warhol, de Kooning and Kline, and life in Fresno.
From his studio in Downtown Fresno's Bus Barn, to the pages of Architectural Digest, local artist Robert Ogata is known nationwide for his work. In this interview we talk about the challenges and advantages of being an artist in the San Joaquin Valley, his Asian-American heritage, and what brings him inspiration.
Local artist Bill Bruce began his art career in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury District in the early 1960's, and after moving to Fresno later that decade, he has become a major part of Fresno's art scene. His studio in the Cultrual Arts District, complete with a large scale mural is home base for his paintings and mixed media works.
Local artist Ara F. "Corky" Normart's work defies categorization. A Fresno State graduate, he first became known as an accomplished watercolorist, painting the Valley's many diverse landscapes on outings with friends Rollin Pickford and Gay McCline. But more recently he has become even more famous for his work in glass, both in windows and free standing sculptures, using the dalle de verre technique. His most famous work came in 1994, a commission to design and supervise the restoration of the dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Several of his sculptures can be seen in public locations in Fresno, including the Woodward Park Regional Library, Saint Agnes Hospital, and St. Columba Church.
Ernesto "Ernie" Palomino is a legend in the world of Chicano art, and has been a vital force on the Fresno art scene for over five decades. A graduate of Fresno's Edison High School, he attended the San Francsico Art Institute, Fresno City College, Fresno State, and San Francisco State, where he got his master degree in Fine Arts. His first book In Black and White: Evolution of an Artist was published in 1956. He went on to teach Chicano Studies, and later Art at Fresno State. Palomino was also the founder of the group La Brocha del Valle, which eventually evolved into Centro Bellas Artes and later Arte Americas. Now retired, and known worldwide for his contributions to the Chicano art world. His current works include a a mural in Downtown Selma depicting the history of the small farm town, and a brozne sculpture Coatlicue and the Farmworkers' Truck.
For over 25 year Francisco Vargas has been putting his mark on the landscape of the San Joaquin Valley, through his large scale sign paiting and mural work. Perhaps best know for his "Welcome to Fresno" mural on Broadway Avenue in Downtown Fresno, Francisco is known nationwide for his mural work. He is currently workin on a project in Downtown Selma with assistant Ramiro Martinez, translating a paiting by artist Enresto Palomino into a large scale mural depicting Selma's history.
Local sculptor Stan Bitters is known internationally for his unique sculptures, fountains and other installations. While constantly in demand with top Southern California designers and architects, much of his most famous work is located right here in Fresno.
As an in-house artist for Madera's Hans Sumpf company, and later on his own, he created unique sculptural clay tile wall reliefs, and clay fountains like Dancing Waters on the Fulton Mall. He also has worked in other mediums, such as bronze, for the massive bronze doors of the Saroyan Theatre. He is perhaps best known for his colorful ceramic works adorning the Duncan Ceramics buildings on East Shields Avenue in Fresno. He is also the author of the book "Environmental Ceramics." Learn more about Stan Bitters... Listen to our interview with Stan Bitters: Download this interview... Support for the Public Art Project radio series comes in part from a grant from the Community Enrichment Program, administered by the Fresno Arts Council.
Jean Ray Laury is one of Fresno's most acclaimed artists. While she has worked in a wide variety of mediums, from tile mosaics to many books, but she is best known for her quilts, which have brought her international fame and attention.
In this interview, we talk with Jean about her career, her involvement in the feminist art movement, and the challenges of being a Fresno artist.
We also learn more about some of her most prominent public art pieces, such as the quilts commissioned for the San Joaquin River Parkway headquarters, works commissioned for the Fresno State Student Union, and her mosaic bench panels of Fresno's historic Fulton Mall. Learn more about Jean Ray Laury...
James Lee Hansen is a sculptor, born in 1925 in Tacoma, WA, and is considered one of the foremost sculptors of the Pacific Northwest. His abstract bronze Talos (1961) stood for many years on Fresno's Fulton Mall, at the western entry to the Merced Street portion of the mall. It is no longer on public display as it was badly damaged by vandals in recent years.
Hansen remains active to this day and lives in Vancouver, Washington. He taught at Oregon State, UC Berkeley, and Portland State Univeristy, and his work has been exhibited at the New York City's Whitney Museum, The Seattle Art Museum, The Portland Art Museum, the Denver Art Museum, and others.
Talos was one of Hansen's most important early works, and part of his "Guardian" series. He personally installed the piece on the mall in 1964. Talos is prominently featured in the international art history textbook "Art: Search and Self-Discovery" by James A. Schinneller (Davis Publications, 1975). Talos was sculpted in clay during Hansen's tenure at UC Berkeley, and later cast in Hansen's Washington studio. Talos takes its name from ancient Greek mythology. Ancient Greek mythology tells us that Talos was a bronze man created by Haphesteus and given to King Minos of Crete by to serve as a guardian over the Agean island. In 2010, Hansen's sculpture Winter Rider No. 2, was installed on Portland's Transit Mall. His 1977 sculpture, Talos No 2 is on display in Portland at Southwest 6th Avenue and Stark Street. Learn more about James Lee Hansen...
Public art enriches the quaility of life of a community, as we encouter outstanding works of art by local and national artists in our everyday routine. But what are the stories behind these pieces, and their creators? That's what we aim to find out with the Public Art Project Radio Series on 90.7 KFSR. 
Artist and author Larry Hill has been a force on the Valley arts scene since the 1950's. A Fresno State graduate, Hill was the first Fresno artist to do large scale abstract expressionist painting. He currently runs the Scene Gallery in Fresno's Park Place Shopping Center at Palm and Nees. He is also an award winning writer. His latest book "Saroyan's Bookie" was published in 2008 by Big Valley Press. In this interview we talk about his career in both the visual and literary arts, his brushes with names like Warhol, de Kooning and Kline, and life in Fresno.
From his studio in Downtown Fresno's Bus Barn, to the pages of Architectural Digest, local artist 
Local artist 
Local artist 
Ernesto "Ernie" Palomino is a legend in the world of Chicano art, and has been a vital force on the Fresno art scene for over five decades. A graduate of Fresno's Edison High School, he attended the San Francsico Art Institute, Fresno City College, Fresno State, and San Francisco State, where he got his master degree in Fine Arts. His first book In Black and White: Evolution of an Artist was published in 1956. He went on to teach Chicano Studies, and later Art at Fresno State. Palomino was also the founder of the group La Brocha del Valle, which eventually evolved into Centro Bellas Artes and later Arte Americas. Now retired, and known worldwide for his contributions to the Chicano art world. His current works include a a mural in Downtown Selma depicting the history of the small farm town, and a brozne sculpture Coatlicue and the Farmworkers' Truck. 
For over 25 year Francisco Vargas has been putting his mark on the landscape of the San Joaquin Valley, through his large scale sign paiting and mural work. Perhaps best know for his "Welcome to Fresno" mural on Broadway Avenue in Downtown Fresno, Francisco is known nationwide for his mural work. He is currently workin on a project in Downtown Selma with assistant Ramiro Martinez, translating a paiting by artist Enresto Palomino into a large scale mural depicting Selma's history.
