Drawing in the Air: A String Sculpture Inspired by Ruth Asawa
Before we wrap a single string around a balloon, let’s talk about the incredible artist behind our inspiration: Ruth Asawa.
Ruth Asawa was a groundbreaking American sculptor known for her intricate, looping wire forms that seem to float in space. Her sculptures look like line drawings that escaped the sketchbook and decided to hover in midair.
But her story is just as powerful as her artwork.
Above: A wonderful book on Ruth Asawa’s life and work with enchanting illustrations by Andrea D’Aquino
A Story of Resilience
Asawa was born in California in 1926 to Japanese immigrant parents. During World War II, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the U.S. government forcibly relocated over 120,000 Japanese Americans to incarceration camps. As a teenager, Ruth and her family were sent to one of these camps.
Despite the injustice and upheaval, she found ways to keep learning and creating. She took art classes while interned and discovered that creativity could be a form of strength and survival.
Later, she studied at Black Mountain College and developed the wire looping technique that would define her career. At a time when the art world was largely dominated by men, Asawa carved out her own space — literally and figuratively — by creating sculptures that were delicate yet strong, transparent yet powerful.
She often said she was “drawing in space.” That idea becomes the heart of our project.
Balloon Line Sculptures: Drawing in the Air
This project lets students experience what it means to build with line instead of filling space solidly.
Materials
- Balloons
- Cotton string or yarn
- White glue (slightly diluted)
- Paper plates or trays
- Hanging space for drying
Step 1: Build with Line
Inflate the balloon.
Wrap string around it in multiple directions — crisscrossing, looping, layering.
Encourage students to think about:
- Where are the lines dense?
- Where are they open?
- How can repetition create rhythm?
Just like Asawa, they are not “coloring in” space — they are creating structure with line.
Step 2: Coat & Transform
Mix glue with water. Dip or brush the mixture generously over the wrapped balloon.
Yes, it’s messy. Yes, that’s okay.
Step 3: Let It Dry
Hang overnight. Patience is part of sculpture.
Step 4: The POP Reveal 🎈
Carefully pop the balloon inside.
Students are left holding a hollow, lacy form — a three-dimensional line drawing they built themselves.
There’s always a collective gasp.
Why This Project Matters
This lesson isn’t just about sculpture. It’s about:
- How artists respond to adversity
- How creativity can survive injustice
- How women artists have shaped modern art
- How strength can exist in delicate forms
Ruth Asawa transformed wire — an ordinary material — into something poetic and powerful. She showed that art doesn’t have to shout to be strong.
And when students see their own floating forms hanging in the classroom, they understand that idea in a very real way.
