A young poet came to the United States from Japan to improve his English. He fell in love, and shortly after he returned to his homeland, his son Isamu was born. Mother and son moved to Japan and lived there until 1918, when the boy returned to the United States. During his time in Japan, Isamu immersed himself in learning Japanese arts. He continued his artistic studies during college and for the rest of his life. Isamu Noguchi may not be a well-known name, but his work has influenced contemporary art here and in Japan. Extensive background information is included. 2009 Kirkus Reviews Best Books. lmp

A biography of biracial sculptor/designer/landscape architect Isamu Noguchi, focusing on his childhood in Japan and the building of an east-west house that gave shape to his lifelong creative approach.

Isamu was a boy of the East and the West. Born in the United States to a Japanese father and Scotch-Irish American mother, Isamu grew up in Japan. From his earliest years he felt the tug of his biracial heritage, never quite fitting in or thinking he belonged. Pleasure came, however, from the natural world. Color, light, and shadow. Earth, wood, and stone. Working with these forms of nature, Isamu found a way to blend his cultural divide. It was an exploration that became the cornerstone and spirit of his lifelong creative journey.

With lyrical text and luminous artwork, Christy Hale tells the story of the boy who grew up to be the multifaceted artist Isamu Noguchi. Guided by his desire to enrich everyday life with art while bringing together Eastern and Western influences, Noguchi created a vast array of innovative sculptures, stage sets, furniture, and public spaces. The East-West House is a tribute to the artistic beginnings of this pioneering modern sculptor and designer.