A Life Made by Hand

By Andrea D'Aquino

Discover how an artist transforms the ordinary into extraordinary through creativity and vision.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 328 ratings

40 pages

$18.95Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Explore the life of Ruth Asawa, a pioneering sculptor who found beauty in the mundane. From her childhood on a farm to her avant-garde education at Black Mountain College, Asawa's journey is a testament to the power of creativity. This richly illustrated book invites young readers to see the world through her eyes and inspires them to create art from everyday objects. With insights into her artistic process and an activity to spark imagination, this story celebrates Asawa's legacy and her impact on arts education. What ordinary things will you transform into art?

From the publisher

Ruth Asawa (1926-2013) was an influential and award-winning sculptor, a beloved figure in the Bay Area art world, and a devoted activist who advocated tirelessly for arts education. This lushly illustrated book by collage artist Andrea D’Aquino brings Asawa’s creative journey to life, detailing the influence of her childhood in a farming family, and her education at Black Mountain College where she pursued an experimental course of education with leading avant-garde artists and thinkers such as Anni and Josef Albers, Buckminster Fuller, Merce Cunningham, and Robert Rauschenberg. Delightful and substantial, this engaging title for young art lovers includes a page of teaching tools for parents and educators.

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