Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The Family

Isamu Noguchi's sculpture "The Family" has  long sat on the lawns of Cigna, the large international insurance and health care company headquartered in the Hartford suburb of Bloomfield.

Last October, I told about the battle with architectural preservationists over Cigna's plan to raze the office building in the background of this photograph.  The outcome is that the office building remains, and the Gillette Ridge golf course now surrounds the Cigna buildings.  The Family sits between the 10th and 17th holes.

at

23 comments:

  1. SRQAugust 24, 2011 at 6:55 AM

    All very interesting. It's amazing how much power architectural preservationists wield. Did Cigna construct a new building or were those plans scrapped? The sculpture looks like quite a course hazard. How many penalty strokes if your ball ricochets off a tree and lands atop one of the sculptures?

    ReplyDelete
  2. PerthDailyPhotoAugust 24, 2011 at 7:21 AM

    A lot can happen between the 10th and 17th hole, games won or lost!! This Family has a bit of a 'Stonehenge' look about it Jack.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bruce ClarkAugust 24, 2011 at 7:58 AM

    A very interesting sculptures and well captured.

    ReplyDelete
  4. HalcyonAugust 24, 2011 at 8:01 AM

    Interesting pieces. Glad they didn't raze everything. Although I'm not against more golf courses. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Valladolid Daily PhotoAugust 24, 2011 at 8:44 AM

    Interesting sculptures, although I never understand 100% what did they represent.

    ReplyDelete
  6. KateAugust 24, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    A contemporary modern day cairn! I like it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. KarlAugust 24, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    Interesting sculptures, Jack.

    ReplyDelete
  8. BirdmanAugust 24, 2011 at 9:16 AM

    Maybe they play the back 9.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Luis GomezAugust 24, 2011 at 9:22 AM

    This sculpture is really great Jack!

    ReplyDelete
  10. MalyssAugust 24, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    Like PerthDP, I was thinking of a modern Stonehenge. With luck, the Family will be there long after the building 's disappearance...

    ReplyDelete
  11. LoisAugust 24, 2011 at 9:47 AM

    Quite a balancing act!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sylvia KAugust 24, 2011 at 11:35 AM

    My first thought was Stonehenge, too!! Interesting addition to the golf course!! Great shot! Enjoy your day, Jack!

    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  13. lizziviggiAugust 24, 2011 at 12:07 PM

    Those are a lot of windows to have on a golf course!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Genie -- Paris and BeyondAugust 24, 2011 at 12:51 PM

    What a lovely view for the Family... Do you think they will mind if we play through?

    Bises,
    Genie

    ReplyDelete
  15. cieldequimperAugust 24, 2011 at 12:55 PM

    Are these druids?

    ReplyDelete
  16. RedPatAugust 24, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    I love Noguchi's work but wasn't familiar with these pieces! Thanks for this post Jack.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Regina KAugust 24, 2011 at 7:07 PM

    Interesting. Are they going to do anything with the building? Sure can't be an indoor driving range? I like the Family.

    ReplyDelete
  18. VirginiaAugust 24, 2011 at 8:09 PM

    Mr. and Mrs. Stonehenge and their precious baby boy, Rocky.
    V

    ReplyDelete
  19. UnknownAugust 24, 2011 at 8:57 PM

    I for one am glad the Family was not disturbed. Not sure how the golfers feel about them but it would give me a reason to walk the course. :D

    ReplyDelete
  20. LynetteAugust 24, 2011 at 10:17 PM

    Thank goodness the building has been saved! These sculptures are wonderful, Jack. I imagine each golfer still enjoys playing here, even with a preserved building and the random sculpture. By osmosis, their appreciation of things other than golf shall increase.

    ReplyDelete
  21. RandyAugust 24, 2011 at 10:18 PM

    Those are great. Very organic looking.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Leif HagenAugust 25, 2011 at 7:59 AM

    I was thinking what Kate of St. Paul already commented.
    Cool sculptures they are!

    ReplyDelete
  23. CildemerAugust 25, 2011 at 9:22 AM

    Strange family! The artist seems to have been inspired by places like Stonehenge!
    Thanks for sharing your wonderful shot, Jack;o)
    And HAPPY BIRTHDAY again;o)

    ReplyDelete