Alexander Calder 1898 – 1976:
American Abstract Kinetic Artist
"Why must art be static?”Static means to be still - Alexander Calder thought it would be greatif sculptures could also move.Alexander Calder was a very imaginative and creative person. Heliked sculpture but he thought sculpture should also move and notonly be still."I think best in wire." Said Alexander Calder- Alexander Calder, from
Calder's Universe,
1976. He liked to use wire to make a drawing 3 dimensional. Therefore hewould make a drawing first and then make those flat shapes intosomething that was 3 dimensional.
Aztec Josephine Baker,
ca. 1929wire53 x 10 x 9 in.134.6 x 25.4 x 22.9 cmPrivate Collection© 1998 Estate of Alexander Calder/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Here is an example of something Alexander Calder drew and then made 3dimensional by making his drawing out of wire. This is Josephine Baker was awell known dancer at the time. He made this to show that what she did wellwas dance so her portrait has to move. This is also an example of the wireportraits that he made. This portrait was able to move when blown by thewind which made it graceful and free like Josephine was as she danced.A portrait is a picture, painting or sculpture of a person.
First lesson on Wire Mobiles and stabiles byAlexander Calder
1.Draw a stick figure of yourself:A)You need to give yourself a circle for your head – you can also give yourself hair.B)You need to draw a line down for your body.C)On to this you need to add arms and legs
D)
Think about what characteristics are needed tomake the stick figure look like you. Do you wearglasses; is your hair long or short? Do you havea round tummy? Or are you very thin? Is yourhair spiky and short or long and curly?
E)
Think about your personality what do you like todo? So you like to swim, run, play football,dance. Think of a movement that you like toparticipate in and include that in your drawing.F)If you want you can draw someone else that youlike.After we have made out drawing we are going to make ourstick person into a mobile that can be hung up likeJosephine Baker the dancer.Just like the cat we made we will make each part of themobile in wire. Then we will hang up the mobile and makea display.
Alexander Calder also loved the circus because he was interested inmovement and he liked the acrobats and the dancers in the circus. He mademany children’s toys that had moving parts and he invented the idea ofmobiles which are moving sculptures. He later made stabiles which were stillsculptures.‘Mobile’ in French means ‘to move’ and ‘motive’. Motive means the reasonbehind something.
Object with Red Ball,
1931wood, sheet metal, wire, and paint61 1/4 x 38 1/2 x 12 1/4 in.155.6 x 97.8 x 31.1 cmPrivate Collection© 1998 Estate of Alexander Calder/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
This is an example of Alexander Calder’s Mobile Object with a RedBall.
Two Spheres Within a Sphere,
1931wire, wood, and paint37 1/2 x 32 x 14 in.95.3 x 81.3 x 35.6 cmPrivate Collection© 1998 Estate of Alexander Calder/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
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