Gosh..I wish I had been able to convince one of my Art Tech students to
research Calder. I noticed that someone on the list (someone in the world)
had searched my site for links for Alexander Calder. I am in the process of
finding some now. I really like the National Gallery tour---but
unfortunately, it does not work on our computers at school....So much neat
stuff I find at home doesn't work at school...bummer!
National Gallery of Art: Calder Tour (needs Quick Time)
http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/caldwel.htm
This has a picture of Calder with wire "Josephine Baker"--such a fun image!
It was my favorite part of both videos that I saw on Calder (who was able to
remain a kids at heart his entire life!).
I particularly liked the section on macquettes --because of the ease in
adapting to lessons for kids.
You could spend hours "touring" this exhibit.
Kinetic art: (http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/ent/A0827669.html)
Kinetic art, term referring to sculptured works that include motion as a
significant dimension. The form was pioneered by Marcel Duchamp, Naum Gabo,
and Alexander Calder. Kinetic art is either non-mechanical, e.g., Calder's
mobiles, or mechanical, e.g., works by Gabo, László Moholy-Nagy, and Jean
Tinguely. The latter sort of kineticism developed in response to an
increasingly technological culture.
Mobile ( http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/ent/A0833511.html)
Mobile , a type of moving sculptural artwork developed by Alexander Calder
in 1932 and named by Marcel Duchamp. Often constructed of colored metal
pieces connected by wires or rods, the mobile has moving parts that are
sensitive to a breeze or light touch; it can be designed to hang from the
ceiling or stand free on the floor. Mobiles became popular in the 1950s for
interior decoration.
stabile (http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/ent/A0846417.html)
Stabile , an abstract construction that is completely stationary. The form
was pioneered by Alexander Calder, and examples were termed stabiles to
distinguish them from mobiles, their moving counterparts, also invented by
Calder.
Calder, Alexander (http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0809863.html)
Calder, Alexander , 1898-1976, American sculptor, b. Philadelphia; son of a
prominent sculptor, Alexander Stirling Calder. Among the most innovative
modern sculptors, Calder was trained as a mechanical engineer. In 1930 he
went to Paris and was influenced by the art of Mondrian and Miró. In 1932 he
exhibited his first brightly colored constellations, called mobiles,
consisting of painted cut-out shapes connected by wires and set in motion by
wind currents. The Museum of Modern Art, New York City, has several
examples. These buoyant inventions and his witty wire portraits, his
colorful and complex miniature zoo (1925; Whitney Mus., New York City), and
his immobile sculptures known as stabiles, have brought Calder world renown.
Many of his later works are huge, heavy, and delicately balanced mobiles
produced for public buildings throughout the world. Calder is also noted for
his book illustrations and stage sets. He had studios in Roxbury, Conn., and
Paris.
See his autobiography (1966) and Mobiles and Stabiles (1968); study by J. J.
Sweeney (1951); J. Lipman, ed., Calder's Circus (1972).
I omitted the links to prints/poster sites on purpose...there are just too
many out there.
Have fun exploring Calder. There are several videos available about Calder.
I have one at school that I will watch again so I can post a brief summary.
Could other folks who have Calder videos post summaries of the one(s) you
have seen?
Lesson idea:
Stabliles are posted on the Getty ArtsEdNet photo site. I have seen some
amazing stabiles done by middle school age students---just cut from poster
board and spray painted (interesting metallic patinas-some with tooth brush
spatter effect -I marveled at the work--I saw these pieces while
substituting several years ago)
Judy Decker
P.S. I am trying the stabile idea (macquettes) at the end of the year with
my sixth graders (I think)...just for fun....to see what they can come up
with...I don't expect great works of art....but should something immerge, I
will share with the list. LOL at Judy never sent "links 1" I just discovered
this as I was translating for Pascale.
