Two of the best things at SF's de Young Museum don't require admission to see: the amazing views from the observatory tower and, in the elevator lobby to the tower, these Ruth Asawa wire sculptures.

The pieces are crocheted out of iron, copper, brass and other types of wire. Exquisitely lit, the display is as much about the shadows as the sculptures themselves and the interplay between individual pieces. Or, more eloquently stated:

The essence of Asawa’s art in wire has to do with transparency and interpenetration, with overlapping, shadow, and darkening. Her forms appear simultaneously inside and outside, sometimes revealing their inner space, sometimes their outer. This shifting perspective makes the forms dynamic, and gives them a quality of vision-in-motion. Hanging individual works in series adds further layers of complexity, as the overlapping compositions become artworks themselves, which change as the viewer changes position. ("The Wire Sculpture of Ruth Asawa" by Larry Weinberg)

I first saw these sculptures in Heather Champ's photos, but didn't realize they were on permanent installation at the museum. It was a nice surprise to head towards the tower and discover them.

ruth asawa wire sculptures

13 December 2009

at the de young museum

Two of the best things at SF's de Young Museum don't require admission to see: the amazing views from the observatory tower and, in the elevator lobby to the tower, these Ruth Asawa wire sculptures.

The pieces are crocheted out of iron, copper, brass and other types of wire. Exquisitely lit, the display is as much about the shadows as the sculptures themselves and the interplay between individual pieces. Or, more eloquently stated:

The essence of Asawa’s art in wire has to do with transparency and interpenetration, with overlapping, shadow, and darkening. Her forms appear simultaneously inside and outside, sometimes revealing their inner space, sometimes their outer. This shifting perspective makes the forms dynamic, and gives them a quality of vision-in-motion. Hanging individual works in series adds further layers of complexity, as the overlapping compositions become artworks themselves, which change as the viewer changes position. ("The Wire Sculpture of Ruth Asawa" by Larry Weinberg)

I first saw these sculptures in Heather Champ's photos, but didn't realize they were on permanent installation at the museum. It was a nice surprise to head towards the tower and discover them.