Alexander “Sandy” Calder Born: January 11, 1889 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Died: 1976 Culture: European American

Alexander Calder

Sculpture Art Style

What makes his art important?  He was the first artist to make a mobile. (A mobile is a piece of art that moves.) It often hangs but can stand on a base.

Alexander Calder’s dad and grandpa were sculptors. When Alexander was young he collected scraps, old dishes, and wire. He made lots of contraptions. Alexander was going to be a design engineer and only later became an artist. Sandy was given the job to illustrate the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. He was given a free two-week pass and spent the time drawing performers and animals. He then created his own movable circus using scraps of wire, cork, wood, string, and cloth. Calder’s Circus became so large it filled up five suitcases. Interesting Facts

E. Calder’s mobiles are sometimes several feet long. They are carefully balanced. The mobiles move by air. They are often made from metal plates, wires, and rods. F. Calder often wore an orange suit with bright red socks. He had a straw hat and rode an orange bike. He was nicknamed “the cantaloupe with the straw hat.” Interesting Facts

Mobile 1

Mobile 2

D) Answer Art Detective Question  “In 1930, Calder had an experience that would transform his art. While visiting the studio of his friend, abstract artist Piet Mondrian, he saw Mondrian’s latest work in progress. Calder later said, “That studio was a very exciting room. Light came in from the left and from the right. Between the windows, squares of brilliant red, yellow, and blue paper were pinned to the walls. Even the record player was painted bright red...At Mondrian’s on that day I felt like a baby being slapped to make his lungs start working...Later, I suggested to Mondrian that it might be fun to make these rectangles move around. He replied, ‘No, that isn’t necessary. My paintings are already very fast.”’ Do you see anything similar between Calder’s mobiles and Piet Mondrian’s painting? Piet Mondrian painting 