Ruth Asawa at Whitney

Exploring Care through Proximity

The Whitney Museum of American Art is currently hosting "Ruth Asawa Through Line," an exhibition showcasing the diverse and often overlooked works on paper by the acclaimed 20th-century artist Ruth Asawa, renowned for her looped-wire sculptures. This show, on view until January 15, 2024, highlights Asawa's artistic journey beyond her famous wire sculptures and brings to light her extensive collection of drawings spanning several decades.

The exhibition is divided into eight thematic sections, such as “Rhythms and Waves” and “Curiosity and Control,” revealing Asawa's exploration of unconventional materials and techniques. These include stamping tools made from everyday items like potatoes, leaves, and fish, and her dimensional folded-paper works. The influence of the natural world is a recurring theme in her work, reflected in both its repetitive linearity and its organic, imperfect forms.

Asawa's artistic journey began early in life. Born in 1926 in Norwalk, California, she grew up working on her family's farm, where she developed a deep connection with nature and art. Her early experiences of creating art were shaped during her time in U.S. internment camps during the 1940s, where she learned drawing from Disney animators also interned.

After her release, Asawa faced racial discrimination while studying at Milwaukee State Teachers College, leading her to leave without a degree. She then moved to North Carolina to attend Black Mountain College, an avant-garde institution where she studied under notable artists and intellectuals. It was here that she met her future husband, Albert Lanier, and began to develop her distinctive artistic style, blending inspirations from various disciplines, including dance, mathematics, and architecture.

In San Francisco, where Asawa settled with Lanier, she began to publicly exhibit her looped-wire sculptures, inspired by wire baskets she saw during a trip to Mexico. Her work quickly gained recognition for its innovative use of material and form, capturing the essence of both interior and exterior spaces.

Asawa's career in the 1960s saw her delve into more intricate tied-wire sculptures, drawing inspiration from natural forms. Her work during this time was characterized by complex, branching shapes that echoed the forms of trees and corals. Alongside her sculptural work, Asawa was a passionate advocate for arts education, contributing significantly to the establishment of public high schools dedicated to the arts in San Francisco.

Asawa’s legacy extends beyond her sculptures, with her drawings and prints being equally significant in her artistic repertoire. The Whitney's exhibition thus serves as a crucial reminder of Asawa's versatility as an artist and her profound influence on 20th-century art. The show emphasizes her belief in art as a method of learning, questioning, and sharing, capturing the boundless energy and generous spirit of an artist who saw creativity as a foundational aspect of human experience.

After its tenure at the Whitney, the exhibition will travel to the Menil Drawing Institute in Houston, further solidifying Asawa’s place as a celebrated artist of her time.