The West Coast And Relocation Camp (1941-1942)

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Isamu Noguchi was living in California. Although he was an American citizen, the half-Japanese Noguchi soon found himself viewed as an alien threat. In January 1942 he helped to organize the Nisei Writers and Artists Mobilization for Democracy, an organization seeking to demonstrate the patriotism of Japanese-Americans. As a legal resident of New York, Noguchi was not affected by the March order that sent all West Coast Japanese-Americans to internment camps. But Noguchi traveled to Washington to speak with figures in the government about the situation, and he was convinced to voluntarily enter the Colorado River Relocation Camp near Poston, Arizona. Having been told that he could improve the lives of the internees by designing physical improvements to the camp, Noguchi prepared plans for recreation facilities and a cemetery. When these projects proved to be impossible the disenchanted artist left Poston in November after about six months in the camp. Noguchi returned to New York and established a studio at 33 MacDougal Alley , where he would work throughout the Forties.

Chronology  | Noguchi on Colorado River Relocation Camps