Google Donates $1.5 Million to SFMOMA for Ruth Asawa Exhibition

# SFMOMA to Host Major Ruth Asawa Retrospective with $1.5M Grant from Google.org

The *San Francisco Museum of Modern Art* (SFMOMA) announced that it has received its largest corporate donation for a single exhibition—**$1.5 million from Google.org**—in support of a major posthumous retrospective celebrating the pioneering artist, Ruth Asawa.

The exhibition, opening on **April 5, 2024**, will feature **over 300 works** spanning Asawa’s six-decade career. The retrospective is co-curated by **Janet Bishop** (SFMOMA Chief Curator) and **Cara Manes** (Assistant Curator at the Museum of Modern Art, MoMA). After its San Francisco debut, the exhibit is set to **travel internationally**, with stops at MoMA, the **Guggenheim Museum Bilbao**, and Switzerland’s **Fondation Beyeler** through early 2027.

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## *Ruth Asawa: A Legacy of Art and Activism*

Ruth Asawa (1926–2013) gained international recognition for her intricate **hanging wire sculptures**, which challenged traditional notions of sculpture and space. But Asawa’s influence extended far beyond her art—she was a dedicated **advocate for arts education**, playing a critical role in shaping San Francisco’s cultural landscape.

Born to **Japanese immigrant parents**, Asawa’s early life was marked by adversity. During **World War II**, she and her family were forcibly relocated to **Japanese American internment camps**—first in **Santa Anita, California**, and later in **Arkansas**. Despite these hardships, Asawa pursued her passion for the arts, studying at the experimental **Black Mountain College in North Carolina** (1946–49), where she encountered influential figures like **Josef Albers and Buckminster Fuller**.

Settling in **San Francisco**, Asawa became a **key figure in the city’s public art initiatives**. Her 1968 **“Andrea” sculpture**, which depicts a group of breastfeeding mermaids, remains one of her most recognizable public works in **Ghirardelli Square**. She was later appointed to the San Francisco Art Commission and played a pivotal role in founding the **Ruth Asawa School of the Arts**, dedicated to fostering young artistic talent.

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## *The Exhibition: A Comprehensive Look at Asawa’s Work*

Spanning **14,000 square feet** of **SFMOMA’s fourth floor**, this retrospective will feature:

– **Early Works (1946-1950s)**: Asawa’s formative years, including her time at **Black Mountain College**, where she developed her influences and first experimented with intricate wire forms.
– **Signature Hanging Sculptures**: The gravity-defying **looped-wire sculptures**, which became her most well-known body of work, will take center stage.
– **Public Art & Activism**: Archival materials from Asawa’s **Japanese American Internment Memorial (1990–94)** and the **Garden of Remembrance (2000-02)**.
– **Floral & Botanical Drawings (1990s-2000s)**: A collection of her delicate, observation-based drawings of plants and flowers.

The exhibition not only showcases her innovative techniques but also highlights her **dedication to community engagement and representation of her cultural heritage**.

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## *Google.org’s $1.5M Grant: Expanding Accessibility & Inclusion*

The generous funding from **Google.org** will support:

– **Free community admission on April 13, 2024**, allowing wider public engagement.
– A **two-day symposium** facilitated by the **Beyond Conflict organization** and **California College of the Arts**, discussing Asawa’s impact.
– Live **public events and workshops** to foster dialogue surrounding her legacy.
– A **community garden initiative** on **SFMOMA’s fourth-floor terrace**, inspired by Asawa’s love for nature and focus on education.
– Collaborative efforts with **UC Berkeley’s Othering and Belonging Institute** to promote deeper discussions on societal inclusion through art.

Google’s support aligns with Asawa’s belief that **art education is essential for developing critical thinking and fostering creativity**. Asawa once stated:

> *“Art will make people better, more highly skilled in thinking and improving whatever business one goes into, or whatever occupation. It makes a person broader.”*

Her advocacy for **arts accessibility** continues to resonate today, especially amidst **budget cuts affecting arts institutions** in San Francisco.

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## *A Historic Moment for SFMOMA & The Art World*

This retrospective arrives during a challenging financial period for many San Francisco cultural institutions, as city officials demand **budget reductions of up to 15%** for public organizations. Against this backdrop, this **historic grant from Google.org