Akagawa, 66, a professor at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design since 1973, is known for sculptural constructions that also serve a practical function. For the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, he created a low stone and wood sculpture that echoes his Japanese heritage and provides seating space. The Afton resident also has done commissions in St. Cloud, Grand Rapids, Thief River Falls and for Macalester College.

"This is a great honor that totally came out of the sky, a wonderful surprise," he said.

The award includes $40,000 from the McKnight Foundation. Akagawa plans to use it for two long-dreamed of projects. He intends to travel to Scandinavia with his wife, artist Nancy Gipple, to study buildings by Finnish architect-designer Alvar Aalto, whose elegant wood-and-glass structures are reflected in Akagawa's own work.

He also plans to build a little "study house" for his boxes, benches, furniture and other creations, "like a tea house, which is a Japanese tradition for moon viewing. It is a little bit of poetry in a kind of dwelling, and I've thought that if I have a little bit of money I might do it in my back yard."

Akagawa studied art in Tokyo, where he was born in 1940. He came to the United States as a student in 1963 and became a citizen in 1973, four years after receiving an M.F.A. from the University of Minnesota.

Currently he is collaborating with MCAD colleague Jerry Allen on a "Peace Bridge" for the Minneapolis Peace Garden at Lake Harriet, and with ceramicist Randy Johnston on an installation for the Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis.

Mary Abbe is at mabbe@startribune.com.

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