The moment I took my last step on the stairs that led to the gallery I immediately noticed this piece of art. I’m referring to it as a piece of art and not a painting since it is a design made with laundry stamp. It did not stand out to me at first as I haven’t had the chance to see anything else to compare it to. However as I explored the gallery I couldn’t quite find anything equally unique.Every other piece including the looped wire sculptures and her tied wire sculptures are composed of similar looking materials and are actual objects with shape and form. other pieces of art on paper included Colorful and simple geometric shapes that seemed entirely different from the sculptures to me.
This piece, however, embodied everything that the shapely wire sculptures have: the tranquility and endlessness of the lines and the delicacy of the wire. As you look at this piece from afar you see something complete, inseparable, translucent, and moving, just like the sculptures themselves. But as you come closer, you’ll notice all the tiny letters that are reminiscent of the twists and turns of the wire. It’s like zooming into a particular part of a sculpture. Her sculptures look like lines in space while this piece looks like sculpture on paper.
That actually made me appreciate Ruth Asawa’s work more. It made me question the time she spent on creating these pieces, twisting every line and connecting it to others. I’ve never worked with wire before, but I imagine it must not be easy. As a wannabe artist that loves designing and sewing I know how long and tedious the process of creating art can be. It doesn’t happen as quickly as one imagines in their head. That said, I don’t doubt Asawa enjoyed her work, no matter how long it took her to finish it. In her letter to her future husband Albert she writes:
“…With all little notes for paintings and wire, I will be content in working by myself and having love with you…”.
Looking around I also noticed this sketch which appears to be made using the same stamp, and the same letters. It made me wonder what the letters “BMC” stand for. It didn’t stay a mystery for long as Megan figured right away that it might stand for “Black Mountain College”. This little piece of art on paper was sent in a love letter to Albert. Seeing as they’re both artists they surely have a unique way of communicating. The “BMC” print makes up a shape of a horned creature with a tail. I personally see a friendly alien with tiny open arms ready for a hug. Maybe not the most romantic sight but I definitely sense a lot of love and positivity.
The notion that she uses “BMC”, referencing her college in her love letter definitely hints at her positive memories there. This is the key to understanding her work I believe. The fact that she uses the very same print in the first painting I’ve mentioned and that this painting resembles all her sculptures shows that there is a definite connection between her work and her personal experience in Black Mountain College as well as her love for her husband. All the warmth and all the love that she felt for her husband and her college she expresses in each of these works adding a sense of personality, meaning, and depth that might not be visible at first, but they strike through if one connects the puzzle pieces.
