Bruce Ariss

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Bruce Ariss, portrait given to long time friend Angelo Di Girolamo, by Ariss' wife Jean. (used with permission)

Bruce Wallace Ariss Jr. (August 10, 1911 – September, 1994) was an American artist. He has been quite influential in Monterey, with streets and theatres named after him. In addition, he has numerous murals there, at least some of which were WPA projects in the 1930s. He also has some illustration work in published books.

For many years, Bruce Ariss was an artist, writer, and icon on the Monterey peninsula. His murals of Cannery Row can still be found throughout Monterey County. Bruce was an acquaintance and contemporary of Nobel Prize author John Steinbeck and Ed “Doc” Ricketts.

Bruce accompanied Ricketts and Steinbeck on an excursion to Mexico to collect marine specimens. His pencil sketches chronicled the trip and offered a rare insight to the obstinate but charming Steinbeck.

One of his many interests was a concept car called the Polaris. In 1958 Bruce designed an economy sedan with innovative features such as a sliding door, front wheel drive and module components.

Bruce worked 12 years at the Defense Language Institute with Barney Inada in the art department. Other accomplishments include designing and building the Wharf Theater which stands today as part of his legacy to the city of Monterey and its arts community he worked diligently towards improving. He also assisted cartoonist Hank Ketcham with Dennis the Menace and working on various movie sets, as well as being the set director for the "I Love Lucy Show".

The Wharf Theater, designed and built by Bruce Ariss

Historic path named after artist, Bruce Ariss

[edit] Illustrations

Briarton, Grendel (1962). Through Time and Space with Ferdinand Feghoot: The First Forty-Five Feghoot Adventures with Five More Never Previously Heard from, Bruce Ariss (illustrator), Paradox Press, Berkeley, California.
DiGirolamo, Vincent (1990). Whispers Under the Wharf, Bruce Ariss (illustrator), Daniel, John & Company, Santa Barbara. ISBN 0-931832-52-7.
Ariss, Bruce (1988). Inside Cannery Row: Sketches from the Steinbeck Era. Lexicos, San Francisco. ISBN 0-938530-45-3.