RUTH ASAWA: A Sculpting Life
Written by Joan Schoettler
Illustrated by Traci Van Wagoner
Ruth Asawa: A Sculpting Life portrays a remarkable woman, teacher, and artist who learned to look closely at life. From the Japanese-American internment camps to the creation of the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the arts, Asawa’s life journey was filled with persistence, learning, and creative expression. Asawa experimented with unconventional mediums, using lines, space, and wire to create sculptures which allow light to cast shadows of her art onto walls. She became known as the “Fountain Lady” of San Francisco for the numerous fountains she designed. As an arts advocate, Asawa worked to involve professional artists in schools. Throughout her life, Ruth Asawa believed ‘art will make people better.’
Reviews
“Libraries with strong arts collections may want to include this picture-book biography of a notable American sculptor.”
—Booklist
“Well-researched information will serve as useful educational material, including the backmatter, which offers photos to complement the realistic illustrations, rendered in dark tones throughout the book.”
—Kirkus
Book Details
Ages: 6 - 9 years /32 pages
ISBN: 9781455623976
HC: $16.99
Pelican Publishing
"Step by Step: Drawing with Wire"
Inspired by Ruth Asawa
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
By Teaching Artist Hannah Freeman
Book signing events:
Milk Carton Construction:
This art project was created by Ruth Asawa, her daughter, and friends. Thank you to Producer’s Dairy for their donation of milk cartons for school projects when I share Ruth Asawa: A Sculpting Life.
"I wanted to share with you our recent Ruth spotting! We were visiting my husband's family in Bentonville, Arkansas which has an amazing art museum, Crystal Bridges. We were tromping through the crowded museum with the extended family. My kids stopped in their tracks when they saw this wire sculpture. Luci shouted, "It's Ruth Asawa!" which caused several others in the museum to take notice. The kids excitedly explained to their cousins about your book and the shadows created by the sculpture. It was pretty cool.
Your book and your talk at Lexington have had a lasting impact on my kids for sure! (And me - I was just as excited as them to discover the sculpture.)"
- Angela
FOR SALE AT:
On August 13, 2020, Ruth Asawa was recognized and honored with the United States Postal Service Forever stamp.