In a distinctive confluence of tributes and honors, the Bay Area's very own Ruth Asawa was posthumously awarded the top-tier National Medal of Arts, a stark reaffirmation of her enduring influence in visual arts. Datebook SF reported that the ceremony, orchestrated by President Joe Biden yesterday, recognized Asawa's extensive artistic contributions, from her transformative wire sculptures to her advocacy for arts education.

Asawa's grandchild, Henry Weverka, told the Datebook SF, "Ruth Asawa was a first-generation Japanese American born to immigrant farmers outside of Los Angeles." Despite her tumultuous experiences, including wartime internment at the age of 16 due to her Japanese heritage, Asawa fostered a resilient identity as an American artist with a rich and impactful legacy.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) echoed these sentiments. Chair Maria Rosario Jackson praised the medal recipients for their "curiosity, creativity, hard work, and dedication," which she noted have inspired and touched lives both within the US and globally. Aside from Asawa, notable recipients span over two years, including cultural icons such as the musician Bruce Springsteen, actress Eva Longoria, and filmmaker Steven Spielberg.

While detailing the nationwide recognition of Asawa's achievements, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) official site presents testimony from Asawa's familial representatives expressing honor and gratitude for the National Medal of Arts bestowed posthumously by President Biden. Asawa's daughter, Addie Lanier, was present during the award ceremony, along with Asawa's son, Paul Lanier, and representatives from the David Zwirner gallery, signaling the family's collective pride and the wide-reaching appreciation of Asawa's artistic journey. They shared, as per Datebook SF, "We hope our mother, grandmother and great grandmother inspires others to explore the arts as a way of living a more enriching and meaningful life."