What will happen to ‘significant’ Clement Renzi sculpture spared from Fresno fire?
Plans are underway to save a sculpture that somehow survived a fire that destroyed a multistory banquet hall in Fresno overnight Sunday.
Fresno Fire Department fought a blaze that began just before midnight Sunday at former banquet hall Fagbule Glass House across from Manchester Center on Shields Avenue east of Blackstone Avenue, according to Battalion Chief Kirk Wanless.
Though the fire brought down part of the building, the Clement Renzi sculpture called “A Day in the Park” that stretched nearly the length of the wall that faces Shields made it out with little damage, according to City Attorney Andrew Janz, who oversees code enforcement.
“The sculpture’s in good shape,” he told The Bee on Monday morning. “I’ve instructed my team to be very careful with it and make sure it’s preserved.”
Janz said the building needs to be razed to prevent it from being a safety hazard, but not before the sculpture will be removed and taken to a safe location. He said the city is not taking on any of those expenses.
He said his team has also reached out to the Fresno Art Museum to find a home for the large sculpture.
Clement Renzi sculptures in Fresno
Clement Renzi was a native of Farmersville who made a name for himself before he returned to Fresno, according to Lilia Gonzales-Chavez, the executive director of the Fresno Arts Council.
She called the sculpture “significant,” saying that Renzi is likely Fresno’s most renowned artist especially when it comes to public art.
She said she visited the sculpture Monday after the fire.
“The art itself looks like it’s in good shape,” she said. “The challenge will be removing it; that it won’t be damaged in any way.”
Renzi pieces can also be found at Fresno County Library, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Fulton Mall and many more places around the San Joaquin Valley.
Fire at the banquet hall
Flames were visible from the multistory building known to attract squatters, the Fresno Fire Department said.
The structure was considered to be a hazard to firefighters and parts of it collapsed as it burned, Wanless said.
The south side of Shields Avenue from Blackstone Avenue to Highway 41 remained closed Monday as crews worked the scene and evaluated the building.
No firefighters were hurt in the effort that called for 10 fire rigs and 40 firefighters, he said.
This story was originally published January 30, 2023 at 12:00 PM.
