"To the Issei" (1980, 1983) by Isamu Noguchi

DESCRIPTION: plaza design and basalt sculptural installation consisting of

  • two 12-foot basalt stone sculptures mounted vertically and horizontally on a red brick tiered platform, with the following dimensions

vertical basalt sculpture: approx. 144-inch high by 5-foot long by 38-inch wide

horizontal basalt sculpture: approx. 48-inch high by 140-inch long by 54-inch wide

  • red brick hardscape plaza


This plaza, referred to as Noguchi Plaza, was designed by Los Angeles native Isamu Noguchi with his 2-piece basalt sculpture as its centerpiece. Noguchi wanted the space to function as a community public space, in his words like a piazza or "town square in Italy."
During the same period, Noguchi completed his only other California work, California Scenario at the Noguchi Garden in Costa Mesa. It contains a variety of sculptural and landscape features and his 12-foot granite sculpture "Spirit of the Lima Bean" as its centerpiece.

NOGUCHI SIGNATURE AND DATE:


LOCATION: Noguchi Plaza, 240 S. San Pedro Street, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California, USA