There was something strangely familiar about this particular sculpture in in the garden of the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it until Peggi pointed out that it reminded her of “Subterranean Surrogates.” The museum here, on the site of Noguchi’s last NYC studio, was recently renovated but remains the first and only museum in the country to be founded by an artist during his lifetime and dedicated to his work. Noguchi worked in ceramics, drew, designed gardens, furniture, architecture, and sets but it is his stone sculptures that have always knocked me out and there is a large section of them here in a protected outdoor setting and garden. We started there and I didn’t want to leave to go inside.
This Week In New York called the Noguchi Museum “one of the most peaceful, beautiful, spiritual, and moving places in New York.” Not much of an exaggeration. Michael Black (one of the founding members of the Bang On A Can All Stars) and the Hartt Bass Band (eight double basses) performed pieces in the museum the day we were there. They sounded great but not great enough to keep us from going back out to the sculpture garden.
Leave a comment