The family of the late author/artist, Leo Politi, along with collectors of Politi’s works, are searching for photographs of Politi’s early work, especially some panels that first hung in the Old Administration Building at what is now Fresno City College. In 1930 the young artist Leo Politi returned to California from Europe, where he had attended art school. He was invited to decorate the panels of the new “Green Room Theatre” (a name never formally adopted) in the Old Administration Building. His gray and black panel designs used Art Deco style, combining abstract, cubist, and futurist elements. At least one panel was later moved to the current Fresno State campus, but it can no longer be found.
Out there somewhere in a drawer or a chest may be pictures of these panels, or maybe even an actual panel. At Fresno City College, the Old Administration Building is being restored, and there is interest in recreating the original designs.
If you have information or photos of these panels, please contact the Arne Nixon Center at (559) 278-8116 or mrianto@csufresno.edu.
