Spotlight on Asian Pacific Americans: Ruth Asawa

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! To celebrate the contributions of Asian Americans, The Center for Global Education has launched a new series called, Spotlight on Asian Pacific Americans. The series will feature inspiring Asian Pacific Americans and explore their specific contributions to life in America. These mini-lessons are perfect for children ages 5-12 and will aim to spark the curiosity of young learners by helping them to build a more inclusive understanding of American history. 

"My curiosity was aroused by the idea of giving structural form to the images in my drawings. These forms come from observing plants, the spiral shell of a snail, seeing light through insect wings, watching spiders repair their webs in the early morning, and seeing the sun through the droplets of water suspended from the tips of pine needles while watering my garden.”

The second installment of Spotlight on Asian Pacific Americans will feature Ruth Asawa, an American sculptor nationally recognized for her wire sculpture, public commissions, and her activism in education. Asawa's work is in the collections of the Guggenheim Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and several of her fountains are located in public places in San Francisco. Asawa was an arts education advocate and the driving force behind the creation of the San Francisco School of the Arts. 

This session will explore how Ruth Asawa embodied global citizenry by investigating the world, recognizing perspectives, communicating ideas, and above all, taking action on issues that were important to her. 

Activities and Resources 

Click here to download and print the corresponding activity sheet to be used during or after the session. 

Click here to view a brief video on how to create your own Ruth Asawa style sculpture at home. 

Click here to enjoy a reading of A Life Made by Hand: The Story of Ruth Asawa, written and illustrated by Andrea D'Aquino. Click here to purchase the book. 

Click here to purchase Ruth Asawa: A Sculpting Life, featured in the program by Joan Schoettler and Illustrated by Traci Van Wagoner