Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Alexander Calder: an inspiration
















Everybody probably remembers Calder as the American artist who developed the new modern art idiom: Mobiles and Stabiles. I remember him also, as the guy who did little wire sculptures that were so whimsical and imaginative. The Whitney Museum had a display of his "Circus" which I saw in N.Y. It just fascinated me. All that defined a circus he had made from small wire "gesture drawings". That's what they look like to me, anyway. I love the idea of capturing the essence of an animal or person with just minimal lines. They come alive with so little detail!
I am adding 2 pictures of animals Calder did and 2 little things I did. My little dog is 3 dimensional but the person is flat so it can be worn as a pendant.
Calder also made jewelry. He hammered his wire so flat that it lost all of the feeling of wire. It looked more like cut out metal sheet. I didn't know how much work that entailed until I tried something similar myself. I'm adding that picture, too. Hope you enjoy!