This week my middle sister and I went to see the Ruth Asawa exhibit at SFMOMA. Tuesday, September 2nd, is the last day of the show. As I cannot do justice to Asawa’s full story, I recommend reading her bio. But in brief, she patented structural methods, raised six children, and made things like these by bending wire.
Look at those shadows. I only wish I’d seen the show sooner, so I might have given you all more notice to visit. Quite incredible, in person, the interaction between what is made and the light and space in which they exist.
She worked on paper and fabric, too. Here, with the Black Mountain College laundry stamp.
She drew. Ginkos in their infinite wisdom.
Eventually she became interested in the branching of trees, which, unsurprisingly given nature’s love of itself, look like neurons.
If neurons threw shadows on walls. And then she can toss out a painting, “Oh this old thing? Did it in my spare time.”
I couldn’t help but imagine what Asawa’s career must have demanded. Her husband, an architect, was fully supportive. Her children helped in her work, which she often did at the kitchen table when she could. And as a Japanese-American, she lived in the SF Bay Area, where her marriage to Albert Lanier, a white man, was legal at a time when miscegenation laws still held in many states. Earlier, however, her family had been interned during WII; California was no protection in those days.
As I waited outside the museum for my sister, the curator of Asawa’s official Instagram account took this picture of me, unknowing, old lady hiking hat firmly in place. He asked if he could post it to their account, and of course I said OK. It was a “story,” and is gone now, so I thought I’d share it here as part of our ongoing series: Leaning On Walls Around The World (1/ and 2/ of 3.)
But I don’t post it just for fun. As I head into a month away from this blog, I have to bring up what we all hate to remember on this late summer Saturday morning.
Expression is political. Although I think it would be hard to put America under full censored rule, I don’t doubt that’s what those in power would like. It goes without saying that I am no Asawa. But if I can ask, consider whether even my little long-running personal blog, photos of gold shoes and hydrangeas et. alia, would keep going if the powers that be got what they wanted.
It’s so hard not to close ourselves into our communities. But there is a possible future in which someone just speaking out gets closed off from others against their will. So I call my reps as often as I can make myself, I donate, and will be volunteering to pass California’s redistricting bill once I am no longer driving buckets of flowers hither and thither.
See you in October. Have a wonderful month. Art, and justice, and family.
10 Responses
Loved the Asawa show; saw it twice. It wasn’t only Asawa’s father who was interned in Arkansas during the war — she was, too, along with the rest of her family. And the closing date of the exhibit, September 2, is Tuesday, not Monday. One extra day to see it.
Thank you for the corrections. One extra day is good:)
Thank you for sharing Ruth’s story — what a difficult and powerful life she led. From her bio: “Art will make people better, more highly skilled in thinking and improving whatever business one goes into, or whatever occupation. It makes a person broader.” How true, and how deeply meaningful that it can carry forward into the future an understanding of the past. I love the Garden of Remembrance. Those sculptures in the exhibit with their shadows are magical, and I love the photo of you with the sign. That’s an awesome hiking hat! It makes the photo meaningful: you look ready to go on a journey, as one should be when experiencing art. Thank you so much for the photo tour and for letting us experience so many things with you. I wish I could see the exhibit in person.
Have a wonderful, wonderful time during your month off celebrating with your lovely daughter. You must be so proud and happy. I’m excited to hear all about it when you return.
Have a beautiful weekend and a beautiful September — full of art, and justice, and family. See you again soon!
Thank you so much. I am glad you found something to particularly love about the exhibit.
Thank you for reminding me of the work of Ruth Asawa, which I revere. The de Young Museum curated the first Asawa retrospective exhibit titled “The Sculpture of Ruth Asawa: Contours in the Air” from 19 November 2006 to 29 January 2007. I saw it with my lifetime friend Rose—we met in high school, she the older glamorous beauty to my dazzled eyes—who is an artist as well as my older brother’s longtime beloved, and her daughter Amanda, who I treasure as a bonus niece. They were my house guests in San Francisco when we saw the show. It was six months after my husband moved out, and I was in a zombie state. I’d love to see the show again in my present state of strength and equilibrium; of actual happiness. The Asawa show astonished me. I bought the show catalog and often refer to it. We are lucky that such beauty exists, and that we can marvel at it in our museums. https://www.famsf.org/exhibitions/sculpture-ruth-asawa-contours-air
Enjoy your break. Sending you love, and hope for a host of happy events during your month off. Thank you, as always, for the community you have created.
xoxoxo.
Thank you for sharing the role this artist has played in your life. I hope too that in your recovering you will experience her again.
I’m so glad you highlighted this retrospective. I have loved Ruth Asawa’s work for years. The show is moving to MOMA in October. I wasn’t planning to go to NYC till spring, but Asawa is a good reason to get there this winter instead. I hope your September break is happy and beautiful – we know you’ll glow for your daughter’s events. Your post is a good reminder (as always) of the balancing act of meeting these dark political times with action and awareness, while also making plenty of space for love, family, and beauty. Cheers!
Wish we could go down South and visit San Francisco again, but not under the present political circumstances. When things open up again, will look for museums celebrating Asawa’s work. Also that of other visual artists, and musical artists! Really miss the Carmel Bach Festival, with their fantastic woman conductor, and the exuberance of San Francisco (I hope it hasn’t lost it under the present circumstances).
Have a wonderful September!
Thank you for sharing this stunning work. Her life and art are so moving. Have a glorious September.
Thank you far sharing the art – just incredible. And have a great break!
And thank you for the sentiments – which I echo – go to the meeting, speak up, organize, participate – the direction of those in power is clear and one way and the guardrails are ashes.