Ruth Asawa (1926-2013) was an American artist of the Modernist Movement. Ruth is best known for her hanging, wire sculptures but currently an exhibit of her drawing, painting, and paper folding entitled Through Lines is at the Whitney Museum in New York City. Bentwood Rocker is part of this exhibit and is emblematic of her patient, persistent relationship with art. She drew this with a felt tip pen.

It seems important to note that Ruth Asawa’s life included a chapter that is to our shame. Ruth Asawa was moved from California with her mother and five siblings to an internment camp in Arkansas. Her 60-year-old father had already been sent to New Mexico. In lived reality, amazingly, Ruth found this to be far from an obstacle. This time set her on a path of advancement in education and art. She said later that she valued everything that had happened to her and made her the person she was.

Ruth had a life-long and daily drawing practice. She drew every day even as a mother of six. She valued the act of drawing not the drawing itself. Drawing was a matter of perception, concentration and being always ready to see.

Ruth’s art shows us a spiritual practice in image. Her drawings can lead us to the focused mind, the open heart and the busy hand of a person in love with seeing and determined to openness.

Ruth Asawa had every reason to let the world close her eyes. She resisted. Are we? May we pray for vision in all things. Amen. 

In gratitude, faith and hope,

Sandy Prouty
Minister of Children and Families
Montview Church