we recently took a road trip to portland. i had always wanted to have a look at the stan bitters installation at the duncan headquarters in fresno but it's off the 99 and not the 5 freeway (our normal route). since we are usually in a hurry i kept putting it off. well this time i made sure we had enough time.
i had seen pictures of it in environmental ceramics and knew that it was going to be cool. but when we turned to corner and i got my first glimpse of it i gasped out loud - it was one of those moments when you see something so amazing that everything kind of stands still and you are totally awestuck.
anyway i went crazy with my digital camera and these posts are here for those of you who can't make the trip. but it you ever find yourself in fresno please do yourself a favor and go there - these pictures don't come anywhere close to what it's like to expierence it in person.
duncan enterprises (now called i love to create) is at 5673 e. shields avenue in fresno, california. duncan was started in 1946 by erma duncan whose "number one love was always the ceramic arts". her family still runs the business and hats off to them for keeping the stan bitters installation intact.
WOW!! That is really impressive! It's beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing that with us!
Posted by: Bonney | August 26, 2009 at 02:11 PM
cathy, thanks for posting these pictures! they are totally amazing!
Posted by: Kelly | August 26, 2009 at 03:17 PM
i grew up looking at the installation nearly every day. i thought it was majestic then and still do now. thanks for posting!
Posted by: jill | August 27, 2009 at 07:52 AM
I want to go to there!
I've never heard of this group of buildings. Thanks so much for bringing it to my attention!
I want it all in my backyard, right now!!!
Posted by: Ellen B. | August 27, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Holy WOW! I love these! Thank you thank you for posting these pics.
Posted by: Katie | August 27, 2009 at 12:42 PM
All I can say is WOW!!! glad you took the side trip - the pics are great!!
Posted by: chris | August 27, 2009 at 04:37 PM
they're incredible! thanks for sharing!
Posted by: shawnee | August 27, 2009 at 05:28 PM
Cathy...I'm so glad you are showcasing them! I work at iLoveToCreate and I really don't think people appreciate these the way they should. They are totally amazing and totally unique! Haha I even think you took a pic of my boss Alyson Dias getting into her car! Did you talk to anyone while you were there?
Posted by: Alexa | August 27, 2009 at 11:40 PM
This is amazinig! Looking at these pics changed my morning from a stress one to a motivating one. I just got the most wonderful ideas from looking at these images for a couple of shows coming up.
Thanks!!
Posted by: Sue Betanzos | August 28, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Like enormous ceramic Loom Flowers! I love them! Inspirational! Wow! Now I really need to go to Portland.
Thank you for a great blog! Love vintage "CrazyCraft" :)
Kind regards
Inger Carina
Posted by: Inger Carina | August 28, 2009 at 06:13 PM
Thanks for the shoutout for Fresno and for Duncan Ceramics. Although they have changed the name, I will always call them Duncan Ceramics, having grown up with the company right here in Fresno. If you had just gone a few blocks out of the way, you could have stopped at Duncan High School, named for Mrs. Duncan, and with more ceramics.
Posted by: Delaine Zody | August 29, 2009 at 06:43 PM
I work in those buildings, and I am fascinated every day with how amazing the ceramics colors are. Thanks so much for sharing with the rest of the world!
Pattiewack
Posted by: Pattie Wilkinson | August 29, 2009 at 09:46 PM
totally awe inspiring! I must make the trip one day - thanx for sharing ;)*
Posted by: TanyaMac | September 18, 2009 at 05:02 AM