Leo Politi Garden Dedication

The dedication ceremony for Leo Politi Garden were held on June 2. It was a very nice event attended by the Center's community supporters and fans of Leo Politi.

The garden honors the friendship between children's illustrator and author, Leo Politi, and his friend, the late Professor Arne Nixon. Politi, who was born in Fresno, lived most of his adult life in Los Angeles, but returned many times to speak at, and draw and paint at, workshops put on by Nixon.

The garden is funded by ANCA, the Arne Nixon Center Advocates. ANCA is the support group for the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s Literature.

Leo Politi Garden Groundbreaking & Construction

The groundbreaking for the Leo Politi Garden is being planned for Monday morning, March 8, at 10 a.m. 

Construction begins Monday, March 8, on the Leo Politi Garden, on the east side of the new Henry Madden Library. The garden honors the friendship between Fresno's most famous children's illustrator and author, Leo Politi, and his dear friend, the late Professor Arne Nixon. Politi, who was born in Fresno, lived most of his adult life in Los Angeles, but returned many times to speak at, and draw and paint at, workshops put on by Nixon.

The Search for Leo Politi Early Work

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.

HELP!

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.