Ruth Asawa dies, age 87

I read with sadness the passing of Ruth Asawa, a nationally recognized  sculptor who created enchanting shapes out of wire.  I once saw a demonstration by her and her daughter at the DeYoung Musuem and was completely captivated.  She had taken a humble craft (crochet) and made sensuous forms out of wire that grace museums and public spaces all over the US.

A memorial celebrating the life of Ruth Asawa will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Music Concourse Band Shell in Golden Gate Park. Asawa, who died Aug. 6 at age 87, was one of California's most admired sculptors and the first Asian American woman in the nation to achieve recognition in a male-dominated discipline. The ceremony will be across from the de Young Museum, where guests are welcome to view her works.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Ruth Asawa Fund, 1116 Castro St., San Francisco, CA 91114. The fund supports the artists-in-residence program at the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts.