Black Sun

History: Isamu Noguchi was selected by the Seattle Art Museum and the Municipal Art Commission in 1967 to create a major sculpture at Volunteer Park in front of the museum building.  This work was donated as a gift to the City of Seattle through the Seattle Foundation, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Noguchi's sculptures and gardens are known and respected internationally; Volunteer Park was chosen as a site for Black Sun because it is enjoyed by thousands of people each year.

Description: Black Sun is a ring shaped form, nine feet in diameter, carved in Japan from a single piece of Brazilian black granite. The basic form contains irregular curved and polished indentations. Black Sun is a reflection of Noguchi's interest in circular shapes and in outdoor environments for sculpture, which was stimulated by forms found in traditional Japanese gardens. The aperture created by the inner circle of the artwork focuses on a panoramic view of downtown Seattle, Puget Sound, and the Olympic Mountains beyond.

Location: Volunteer Park, 1247 15th Avenue East, Seattle WA  98112