ALEXANDER CALDER

Born in a family of celebrated artists Alexander “Sandy” Calder (1898-1976) is considered one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century. His mother was a professional portrait painter and his father and grandfather were well known sculptors who created public installations in the Philadelphia area where his family migrated to from Scotland. “Calder is renowned for the invention of the mobile, whose suspended, abstract elements move and balance in changing harmony”.* These kinetic wire sculptures depicted Calder’s sharp eye for their engineering balance … a by product of his formative engineering schooling. In addition to his mobile and stabile sculptures Calder produced paintings, lithographs, toys, tapestries and jewelry; select art forms today can be sourced through galleries (see artnet portal below). Calder is perhaps most remembered though for his large scale commissioned works here in the U.S. and abroad.

* Excerpt from Calder Foundation portal

related links:
www.calder.org
http://www.artnet.com/artist/3485/alexander-calder.html

images: (click on images to enlarge)
Man, c1967 Expo ’67 Montreal CA
.125, c1957 JFK Airport Port Authority of NY
Tom’s c1974, Calder Foundation
Grand Vitesse, c1969 Grand Rapids MI
La Spirale, c1958 Unesco Paris France w/ A Calder