Alexander Calder

 

Here's a cool thing that happened to me...When I got home from Alt Summit there was a package with my name on it sitting on the dining room table. When I opened it I found this happy, beautiful pop-up book called Alexander Calder: Meet the Artist with a hand written note from Princeton Architectural Press that said that it was coming out this February and they thought I might be like it. They got me. I love this guy. If you have a little artist at home, they will love learning about Calder.  He was just a big kid himself, making colorful art for art's sake.  I'm totally inspired to start working on Calder projects now. Enjoy the show!

 

Here are some fun facts about Calder that I learned from the book:

*His favorite color was red (me too!)

*His friends and relatives called him "Sandy"

*He loved making sculptures with random objects like corks, cans, coat hangers, and clothespins.  

*He was most famous for his invention of mobiles: Sculptures in motion

But I will always love his crazy circus most of all...

Shining Happy People

Alexander Girard's Wooden Dolls

One of the reasons I enjoy mid century artists and design is that it speaks to my life right now.  Eames, Girard, Risom, and Calder made things that were functional, simple, accessible, and delightful, even for children. Their work extends beyond shell rocking chairs and mobiles. Here are two creations in motion guaranteed to make you smile.

The Eames duo designed the "Do Nothing Machine", a solar powered toy for the ALCOA's Forecast Garden Collection, that literally did nothing, except harness the power of the sun(in 1957). It was also really fun to look at. "It is not supposed to do. It is supposed to be. Its whole function is in its being." Ray Eames 



Alexander Calder is best known for his beautiful bent wire mobiles, but his intricate wire circus is truly stunning.  Here he is performing the circus back in 1952 (originally created in 1927).