Alexander Calder: The Innovative Sculptor

Alexander Calder was born in 1898 in Pennsylvania to a sculptor, his father, and a painter, his mother. His father was publicly known, his family traveled across the country during his childhood. At a young age, he was encouraged to explore his creativity. For Christmas one year when he was 10, he presented his parents with sculptures.

Originally, Alexander Calder did not intend to become an artist. After high school, he enrolled in Stevens Institute of Technology. In 1919, he graduated receiving a degree in engineering. For several years after his graduation, he worked at different jobs from an automotive engineer to a fireman in a ship’s boiler room. In 1923 Calder committed his life to art and enrolled at the Art Students League in New York.

In 1930, Alexander Calder visited the Piet Mondrian’s studio in Paris. He was very impressed by Mondrian’s colors and abstraction. For weeks following his visit to Mondrian’s studio, he created paintings of an abstract nature only. The result of thing was that he preferred to be a sculptor rather than a painter. In the fall of 1931, Calder created his first truly kinetic sculpture. This gave form to an entirely new type of art. Calder also realized that he could make mobiles that could move without mechanical help, he called these “stabiles.” Calder’s time in Paris proved to be very important to his career. He discovered that he wanted to pursue sculpting and become known for his sculptures. In Paris, he practically gave birth to a new art form. He left France in 1933.

Alexander Calder also tried is hand at large sculptures. His first attempts were made for gardens, but bent easily in strong winds. In 1937, he made a large, bolted stabile called Devil Fish. That piece was exhibited in a Pierre Matisse Gallery show, Stabiles and Mobiles. In his later years, Calder concentrated his efforts on his large-scale work. His major monumental sculptures are on display all over the world. He as work displayed in Paris, Italy, New York, Montreal, Mexico, and Germany.

Calder died on November 11, 1976, at the age of 78. Two months after his death, Calder posthumously was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Gerald Ford. In 1987, Calder’s family founded the Calder Foundation. The Calder Foundation has about 300 sculptures, 55 monumental large-scale sculpture, and over 3000 works on paper.

Questions:

1.What brought your person to France? Was there a particular reason he left America to pursue their work in France?

I believe that Alexander Calder traveled to France looking inspiration. He went to Piet Mondrian's studio looking for inspiration. He found a liking to abstract art, but only for a few weeks. He discovered he was meant to be a sculptor. He also met his wife Louisa in Paris. I don't believe there was a certain reason he left for Paris, but his career certainly benefited for his visit to France.

2.What did you think of the person's work? Does it appeal to you? Why or why not?

I found Alexander Calder's work fascinating. I think it is very appealing to the eye because of the all the wire in the mobiles. The curves are very neat, to say the least, to look at. I like how all the components of the mobiles have to have complete balance in order to function. His work appeals to me because his work is intricate, but simple. All the parts have to have the same weight. When they do, they form simple patterns.

3.Based on what you know about the person and the samples you've found, would you be interested in more of their work? Why or why not?

I would like to see more of Calder's work. I would like to see some of his abstract work that he rejected. i would love to visit one of his monumental sculptures in New York or maybe even Paris. I wouldn't mind visiting one of his galleries, either.