GEOMETRIC PUZZLE FOR THE YOUTH

Washington D.C., 2009

Geometrical Puzzle for the Youth was an interactive sculpture on view in the Hunter Courtyard at the Phillips Collection, Washington D.C. for the summer of 2009. The sculpture was constructed with 134 painted wood panels, and takes its name from a 19th century American book on Chinese Tangrams, which had been recently introduced to the United States. The shape of the tangram is inspired by Kenneth Noland’s painting, In the Garden, in the permanent collection of the Phillips. The Phillips hung Noland’s painting just outside the courtyard during the exhibition. The piece consisted of two parts: the rectangular puzzle in the middle of the courtyard that recreates the painting in six panels and a selection of puzzle pieces on the side walkway which could be played with.