Got Inspiration?

We visited the Whitney Museum of American Art today to see Alexander Calder: The Paris Years, 1926-1933.

Goldfish Bowl, 1929
(This has moving parts and if you turn the crank, the fish "swim" up and down with the waves!)

We did not know much if any of his work before today, but found his wire sculptures and mobiles (he was the first creator of one!) to be fantastic examples of what art can achieve:

- a sense of play
- movement
- engineering, using math & physics

Calder created a miniature circus (watch the video) that had working parts, and designed toys for some of his career. We especially thought of Mikaela, Alexandra and Andy as we wandered through the galleries. Calder started creating as an 8-year-old and some of his earliest work was on display. We hope you can look at some of his art online and get as inspired as we were today!

Circus Scene, 1929 Fernand Leger, 1930

Tight Rope Artists, 1926-31 Romulus and Remus, 1928