The NYC Urban Sketchers visited the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City yesterday. The sketchers had been there before but I had missed that sketching opportunity. I didn't know much about the artist, so here is a bit of his bio from the museum website.
Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988) was one of the twentieth century’s most important and critically acclaimed sculptors. Through a lifetime of artistic experimentation, he created sculptures, gardens, furniture and lighting designs, ceramics, architecture, and set designs. His work, at once subtle and bold, traditional and modern, set a new standard for the reintegration of the arts.
The museum is in a huge, two-floor red industrial building and has meditation gardens outside and lots of Noguchi's sculptures all around the inside galleries as well as the outside gardens. I liked the way the sculptures looked against the big windows overlooking the gardens.
On the top floor there were a lot of smaller sculptures that almost looked like they were set into the floor.
While I was sketching there was a docent giving a tour. It was interesting to hear some of the details of his life. The complete
bio on the museum website is an interesting read.
I also forgot to post this sketch of Toby, my sister's dog. I kept trying the whole time we were in Maine to sketch him but he moves too much. Finally I had part of him sketched and my nephew sat with him so he would stay and I could finish the rest of the sketch. He actually is Michael's dog.