Public Art

I. Introduction

A. Background

The Red Cube is an interesting sculpture created in 1968 by the artist Isamu Noguchi. It is situated in front of 140 Broadway. This is amidst of Liberty and Cedar Streets in New York City. The sculpture offers an insight into the artist’s work, also and public art. Public art is any artwork that is created purposefully to be made accessible to the entire public, connecting the public and environment in the community. Public art provides an opportunity for the community to interact and appreciate art without the need to visit art museums. The Red Cube located in New York makes it public, allowing it to interact not only with the New York community, but the environment of streets and skyscrapers.

B. Thesis

Isamu Noguchi’s Red Cube is an excellent and successful piece of public art. The art clearly embodies his artistic ideal thus it is a perfect fit in his art career, and further makes a contribution to the history of public art. Creating and positioning the Red Cube in New York provides a wonderful informal opportunity for the New York community to interact with it. These interactions have shaped the people’s opinion concerning the Red Cube.

II. Body

1. Noguchi is a renowned artist who has made several pieces of art among the prominent public arts such as the Red Cube. The Red Cube embodies Noguchi’s artistic style thus it a major contribution to his art career.  The piece further makes an enormous contribution to the history of public art.
2. Richard Serra (Tilted Arc, 1981, Federal Plaza, New York) was the patron for the red cube. The patron of the art intended to make a sculpture that could blend perfectly with the built environment.  The patrons initially intended for a monolith sculpture, which would have perfectly fit in front of the HSBC Bank Building (also known Marine Midland Building), which they had designed.  They never managed to build this monolith sculpture, but still managed through Noguchi’s artistic work to get a befitting structure to stand in front of the building.
3. The public has had various other responses toward the public art. Most have found it befitting and inspirational. No one ever fails to notice the Red Cube.
4. Success of this work of art cannot be over stated. The art holds a significant position in the built environment. It’s part of the fabulous New York City urban landscape. The art has stirred different responses for different audiences and never fails to get noticed. Bright red color, its surprising shape, the hole located at the middle and the architecturally sleek makes it a successful public art. Skyscrapers surround the three sides of the red cube. This draws the eyes of the viewers upwards. The fact that the cube balances on one corner while the opposite corner reaches heading for sky adds to this upward pull.  All this contributes to the success of Noguchi artistic work.

III. Conclusion

A. The red cube is an interesting piece of public art with an interesting story and a blessing of the craftsmanship of a talented artist, Noguchi. The art is a clear depiction of his artistic style and a major contribution to the history of public art in general. The art has stirred different responses for different audiences and never fails to get noticed.

The red cubelocated in New York entails success and excellence in the work of public art. It exemplifies Noguchi artistic ideals in his career. Its positioning has greatly contributed to the history of public art, and has given the public a golden chance to interact with it. It is through this interaction that public has developed different ideas and opinions regarding it.