Terence Gower, Noguchi Galaxy I & II, 2013, powder-coated aluminum and steel, PS 330, Queens

Noguchi Galaxy is a two-part installation located in the lobby and library of PS 330, Queens. Both locations feature hanging sculptures of different sizes and colors, specifically designed for the spaces in which they exist. The forms are inspired by the Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988). An internationally renowned artist, Noguchi maintained a studio in Queens beginning in 1960 and designed The Noguchi Museum in Long Island City which displays many important examples of his work. Terence Gower chose to reference Noguchi to connect his installations to the community for which it was created. The pieces allude to the history and culture of Queens, and pay homage to the life and work of one of its most important artists. They also speak to the work of other notable artists including Henri Moore, Barbara Hepworth, and Alexander Calder’s infamous mobiles.  Playful and witty, the individual abstract shapes are enigmatic, vaguely familiar and intentionally left open to interpretation and imagination. The sculptures are visible from many viewpoints both inside and out, and serve as lessons in perception by providing the opportunity to see how they change when seen straight on, from below, or from a distance.