The Noguchi Playscapes was commissioned in 1975 by the High Museum of Art in Atlanta,Georgia and donated to the City of Atlanta as a Bicentennial gift. It was dedicated by then Mayor Maynard Jackson.
The idea leading up to the Playscapes came from one of the High Museum of Art’s volunteers, Frankie Coxe. The sculptural playground was to function as a point of departure for the imagination of children - a learning environment in which children could enjoy and explore. The museum programmed art classes at the pavilion of Playscapes, exploring new methods of art education.
The work to preserve this unique and iconic landmark for the City of Atlanta and for generations of children was a joint effort of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, the Piedmont Park Conservancy and the Neighborhoods that make up the Midtown Parents Groups.
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Isamu Noguchi
(1904– 1988)
Isamu Noguchi was an artist, architect and designer known for his sculpture and public works. His attraction to the simplicity of form and a commitment to abstraction are evident in the numerous projects he completed throughout his career.
Noguchi was born in Los Angeles in 1904 to an American writer and a Japanese poet. Raised in Japan, he was sent back to the US to study at the age of 13. While attending the Leonardo da Vinci School of Art, he quickly established himself as a skilled sculptor. There, Noguchi was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship for his distinguished talent, allowing him to spend three years studying abroad.
In 1930, Noguchi traveled back to Japan. While studying Zen gardens and eastern architecture, he became interested in integrating art with the everyday environment. Some of his best known works are abstract sculptures designed for public spaces, including the garden for the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris (1958), the Billy Rose Garden of Sculpture at the Israel National Museum in Jerusalem (1960 – 1965), and the Red Cube (1968), a massive steel sculpture designed for the Marine Midland Bank building in New York City. Additionally, Noguchi proposed a number of play environments, of which only one was completed in the continental US. The Noguchi Playscapes, located in Atlanta, Georgia, was realized in 1976.
The work of Isamu Noguchi spans over six decades, ending in the late 1980’s. Along with his outdoor projects, the artist also designed sets for various Martha Graham productions and several furniture pieces that are still mass produced today. His prolific and varied body of work can be viewed at theNoguchi Museum in Long Island City, New York.
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Restoration of the Noguchi Playscapes
The restoration was accomplished in two phases. In Phase One the conservation team of Jablonski Berkowitz Conservation,Inc. (New York) assessed the site and designed a work plan for restoring the artwork. In Phase Two Williams Art Conservation, Inc. (Los Angeles) performed the professional restoration of the objects. The pavilion was restored by Gay Construction Company under the guidance of the Piedmont Park Conservancy. Funding for the project was provided by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs through the 2005 Park Improvement Bond. The Office of Cultural Affairs Public Art Program managed the project restoration and continues to provide stewardship for Playscapes in addition to over 250 artworks in Atlanta’s Public Art Collection.
View Full Playscape Panorama
