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Hidden Gems from the Archives
Ruth Aiko Asawa Lanier was a highly respected sculptor, public artist, and passionate advocate for arts education. Born in 1926 to Japanese parents in California, Asawa spent her early life with her large family in rural Southern California. However, the outbreak of World War II led to a devastating turn of events for Asawa’s family and other Japanese Americans.
In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which resulted in the forced relocation of Japanese Americans deemed a threat to national security from the West Coast to “relocation centers” further inland. As a result, the Asawa family was forced to leave their farm and interned at the Rohwer Relocation Center in Arkansas. Despite the difficult circumstances, Asawa graduated from high school in the internment camp.
Upon being released from the internment camp, Asawa transferred to Black Mountain College in North Carolina, where she met her future husband, architect Albert Lanier. In the 1950s, they moved to San Francisco, where they raised six children while Asawa continued her work as an artist in her home studio. Asawa was a prominent advocate for the arts and played a vital role in establishing the San Francisco School of the Arts, now named after her.
In 1970, the Grand Hyatt in Union Square commissioned Asawa to create a bronze statue that is now a landmark in the area. As a community champion, Asawa engaged the help of friends, family, visitors, and over one hundred area children to sculpt all the scenes for the fountain panels in common baker’s clay, which were then cast in bronze for the finished fountain. The San Francisco Fountain has become a popular attraction for visitors to Union Square.
Throughout her life, Asawa challenged stereotypes and broke down barriers as an Asian American, a mother, a fine artist, and a public art advocate. Her legacy as a true artistic leader continues to inspire and influence future generations of artists and art enthusiasts.
Source: Atlas Obscura, Ruth Asawa’s San Francisco Fountain, and photo provided by San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Union Square's Newest Tradition
The Union Square District has a long and storied tradition of being adorned with flowers. For many years, the presence of flowers, particularly daffodils, was abundant throughout the community. From handing out flowers to visitors walking through Maiden Lane to Macy’s Flower Show dating back to 1964, flowers have traditionally been a significant draw for visitors to our district. Most recently, American Tulip Day draws tens of thousands of visitors to gather tulips that decoratively blanket Union Square Park.
The Alliance wants to continue this tradition by attracting visitors through Union Square in Bloom, an annual activation that bring beauty and a sense of place to the district through vibrant floral displays and interactive programming. By working as a community, the Alliance aims to create a cohesive theme throughout the district and welcome visitors, workers, and residents to the heart of San Francisco.