When you put a seed in the ground, it doesn’t stop growing after eight hours...We, too, need to keep growing every moment of every day that we are on this earth
In commemoration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we highlight the words of Ruth Asawa, the American artist most well-known for her wire sculptures.
This week, we reflect on Asawa's perspective on the importance of continuous growth within leadership:
Ruth Asawa: “When you put a seed in the ground, it doesn’t stop growing after eight hours. It keeps going every minute that it’s in the earth. We, too, need to keep growing every moment of every day that we are on this earth.”
A Trailblazer in Accessible Art
Ruth Asawa was an American-born modernist artist known for her wire sculptures and abstract nature drawings. She was born in California, in 1926, to Japanese immigrants. At the age of just 16, her family was split apart and sent to different Japanese internment camps. The Japanese American Internment took place by the US government during World War II -- the result of the federal government's lengthy history of racist conduct towards Asian immigrants. During this period, Asawa learned to draw from illustrators interned at the camp.
Later, she became affiliated with the avant-garde community at Black Mountain College. There, she started making wire sculptures, attaining success by the 1960s. She began to promote public art, believing in "art for everyone".
Leadership Driven by Continuous Growth
Throughout her life, Asawa continued to grow as an artist, achieving major success despite facing discrimination within the art community. Despite her aspirations to become an art teacher, she was denied admission to a college on the California coast. The college banned ethnic Japanese individuals, regardless of whether they were American citizens. Despite the hardships she experienced throughout her life, Asawa focused on continuous growth and learning.
Asawa's approach aligns with the Laidlaw value of being #Curious and the Oxford Character Project Leadership Virtue of #Humility. Being curious means to pursue personal growth and learning. Humility means to reflect on ways we can continuously develop.
A Call to Reflect
We invite you to reflect on Ruth Asawa's powerful leadership insights. Share your thoughts in the comments: What practices help you stay open to growth and learning, even in the face of setbacks?
Hi! Having previously been a Laidlaw Undergraduate Scholar studying English Literature at UCL, I’ve recently joined the Laidlaw Foundation as a Community Ambassador and Team Support Executive.
My research looked at collaborative and innovative practices in academic publishing, and community building is something I built a passion for during my Leadership in Action. I’m looking forward to continuing my journey at the Laidlaw Foundation in this new role! Feel free to reach out or connect with me!
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