Leonard Riggio, who created the big box bookstore, is donating 9 Isamu Noguchi scupltures to the Noguchi Museum in Long Island City, NY, Carol Vogel writes in the New York Times:

“They wanted to be anonymous, but we appealed to them, because we thought this gift would inspire others,” said Jenny Dixon, director of the museum.

The sculptures, which are currently in Mr. Riggio’s Long Island garden, are made of basalt, granite and andesite and were created by the artist at his studio in the Japanese village of Mure-cho on the island of Shikoku.

“Sculpture for us was a gateway to collecting art,” said Mr. Riggio, who along with his wife, Louise, has amassed holdings in contemporary art.

Inside Art: Gift to Noguchi Museum (New York Times)