The Rose Garden after Melania Trump's overhaul. Reuters
The Rose Garden after Melania Trump's overhaul. Reuters
The Rose Garden after Melania Trump's overhaul. Reuters
The Rose Garden after Melania Trump's overhaul. Reuters

Lifestyle

Melania Trump adds final touches to her White House Rose Garden renovation

The First Lady is introducing a sculpture by Japanese American artist Isamu Noguchi

Selina Denman
Selina Denman

April 30, 2021

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Latest: Petition urges Jill Biden to undo Melania Trump's changes to the White House Rose Garden

Melania Trump is making some final improvements to the White House Rose Garden.

The First Lady has announced that a work by the Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi will be installed on the east terrace of the presidential garden. Noguchi, who died in 1988, is the first Asian American artist to be featured in the White House collection.

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"I am excited to announce the installation of Floor Frame to the newly restored White House Rose Garden," said Trump in an official statement. "This sculpture not only showcases diversity within our nation's finest art but it also highlights the beautiful contributions of Asian American artists to the landscape of our country."

Floor Frame was gifted to the White House by the White House Historical Association in March. According to the White House statement, Noguchi "viewed Floor Frame as the intersection of a tree and the ground, taking on the qualities of both an implied root system and the canopy of a tree. To reconnect viewers to the planet, he envisioned the sculpture placed directly on the ground."

Born in Los Angeles, Noguchi spent most of his childhood in his father's homeland of Japan. After graduating from high school, Noguchi apprenticed with Gutzon Borglum, who created the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota.

He later dropped out of Columbia University's premedical programme to pursue a career as a sculptor. He gained acclaim in 1946 when his biomorphic stone sculptures were included in the Fourteen  Americans exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. He melded Japanese aesthetics with Western modernism, believing that sculpture should shape spaces.

In August, Trump completed a renovation of the famed White House Rose Garden, which was redesigned under her supervision. The famous garden is just outside the Oval Office, and is often home to press conferences and events. It dates back to 1913, and had its last full redesign in 1962. That reworking was overseen by then first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy.

Flowers are in full bloom in the White House Rose Garden, Washington, DC, on April 27, 1963. Getty Images
Flowers are in full bloom in the White House Rose Garden, Washington, DC, on April 27, 1963. Getty Images
General George Patton and President Harry Truman walking together at White House Rose Garden in Washington, District of Columbia, 1945. Getty Images
General George Patton and President Harry Truman walking together at White House Rose Garden in Washington, District of Columbia, 1945. Getty Images
View of American politicians, Vice President Lyndon B Johnson (1908 - 1973) and President John F Kennedy (1917 - 1963), as they meet with the press in the White House Rose Garden, Washington DC, March 6, 1961. Getty Images
View of American politicians, Vice President Lyndon B Johnson (1908 - 1973) and President John F Kennedy (1917 - 1963), as they meet with the press in the White House Rose Garden, Washington DC, March 6, 1961. Getty Images
Lady Bird Johnson is shown in the White House rose garden with her grandson Patrick Lyndon Nugent, Lynda Bird Robb and an Easter Bunny. 10th April 1968. Getty Images
Lady Bird Johnson is shown in the White House rose garden with her grandson Patrick Lyndon Nugent, Lynda Bird Robb and an Easter Bunny. 10th April 1968. Getty Images
After taking their vows, Edward Finch Cox and Tricia Nixon Cox walk through rows of flowers past their guests en route to the White House for the reception, following their wedding in the White House rose garden. The bride is the daughter of president Richard Nixon.
After taking their vows, Edward Finch Cox and Tricia Nixon Cox walk through rows of flowers past their guests en route to the White House for the reception, following their wedding in the White House rose garden. The bride is the daughter of president Richard Nixon.
President Reagan in a meeting with reporters in the Rose Garden of the White House, says he is 'prepared to go the extra mile' in reaching an acceptable compromise with Congress on the 1983 budget. Getty Images
President Reagan in a meeting with reporters in the Rose Garden of the White House, says he is 'prepared to go the extra mile' in reaching an acceptable compromise with Congress on the 1983 budget. Getty Images
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan feeds some White House squirrels (not shown) with acorns collected for Camp David. The photo was taken outside the Oval Office adjacent to the Rose Garden. Getty Images
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan feeds some White House squirrels (not shown) with acorns collected for Camp David. The photo was taken outside the Oval Office adjacent to the Rose Garden. Getty Images
Russian President Boris Nikolaevich Yeltsin (1931 - 2007), left, stands next to US President George HW Bush (1924 - 2018) at the White House's Rose Garden, Washington, DC, June 16, 1992. Getty Images
Russian President Boris Nikolaevich Yeltsin (1931 - 2007), left, stands next to US President George HW Bush (1924 - 2018) at the White House's Rose Garden, Washington, DC, June 16, 1992. Getty Images
U.S. President George Bush gestures toward reporters during an outdoor press conference in the White House Rose Garden 10 April, 1992. Standing next to a magnolia tree in full bloom, President Bush said he has ordered his campaign workers to "stay out of the sleaze business". AFP
U.S. President George Bush gestures toward reporters during an outdoor press conference in the White House Rose Garden 10 April, 1992. Standing next to a magnolia tree in full bloom, President Bush said he has ordered his campaign workers to "stay out of the sleaze business". AFP
US President George Bush gives French oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau a tour of the White House Rose Garden, 24 April 1992. AFP
US President George Bush gives French oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau a tour of the White House Rose Garden, 24 April 1992. AFP
President Clinton and visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto walk through the Rose Garden on their way to lunch April 11 1995 at the White House.
President Clinton and visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto walk through the Rose Garden on their way to lunch April 11 1995 at the White House.
President Clinton Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat leave the Rose Garden of the White House October 15 1999. Reuters
President Clinton Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat leave the Rose Garden of the White House October 15 1999. Reuters
US President Bill Clinton and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud walk through the Rose Garden 24 September 1998 at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP
US President Bill Clinton and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud walk through the Rose Garden 24 September 1998 at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP
US President Bill Clinton, using his crutch as a pointer, shows Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto various flowers and trees during a tour of the Rose Garden at the White House 25 April. AFP
US President Bill Clinton, using his crutch as a pointer, shows Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto various flowers and trees during a tour of the Rose Garden at the White House 25 April. AFP
President George W. Bush makes a statement from the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008. Bush said the election of Barack Obama as president of the U.S. is a 'dream fulfilled' for the civil rights movement and a victory for all Americans. Getty Images
President George W. Bush makes a statement from the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008. Bush said the election of Barack Obama as president of the U.S. is a 'dream fulfilled' for the civil rights movement and a victory for all Americans. Getty Images
President Barack Obama speaks about rising gas prices and oil company tax breaks during a statement in the Rose Garden at the White House on March 29, 2012 in Washington, DC. Getty Images
President Barack Obama speaks about rising gas prices and oil company tax breaks during a statement in the Rose Garden at the White House on March 29, 2012 in Washington, DC. Getty Images
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Malia and Sasha pose for a family portrait with their pets Bo and Sunny in the Rose Garden of the White House on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015 in Washington, DC. Getty Images
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Malia and Sasha pose for a family portrait with their pets Bo and Sunny in the Rose Garden of the White House on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015 in Washington, DC. Getty Images

Trump opted to strip away much of the colour that had characterised the garden, as well as 60-year-old trees, in the first major change since the Kennedy era.

The white JFK rose now lines the length of the garden, while light pink and yellow Peace roses are dotted throughout. Many of the changes, officials noted, had to be made because of poor drainage of the lawn and damage to shrubs and tree roots over time.

'Floor Frame,' created in 1962 by Isamu Noguchi, seen in the White House Rose Garden in Washington DC, on November 21, 2020. EPA
'Floor Frame,' created in 1962 by Isamu Noguchi, seen in the White House Rose Garden in Washington DC, on November 21, 2020. EPA

Another key element removed was a seating area on the east side of the garden, which was at times used by presidents for lunches and other meetings. This is where Floor Frame will find its new home.

List of officials:

Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.

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