Autobiographical MobilesAutobiographical Mobiles

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Alexander CalderAlexander Calder

Alexander CalderAlexander Calder 1898 1898 –1976), was an American –1976), was an American sculptor and artist most sculptor and artist most famous for inventing the famous for inventing the mobile. In addition to mobile. In addition to mobile and mobile and stabilestabile sculpture, Alexander sculpture, Alexander Calder also created Calder also created paintings, lithographs, paintings, lithographs, toys, tapestry and toys, tapestry and jewelry. jewelry.

Although Although CalderCalder’s parents ’s parents encouraged his creativity as a child, encouraged his creativity as a child, they discouraged their children from they discouraged their children from becoming artists, knowing that it was becoming artists, knowing that it was an uncertain and financially difficult an uncertain and financially difficult career. In 1915, Calder decided to career. In 1915, Calder decided to study mechanical engineering.study mechanical engineering.

One of Calder’s mobiles made in One of Calder’s mobiles made in 1956-titled Red Mobile1956-titled Red Mobile

KineticKinetic Sculpture- Sculpture that has Sculpture- Sculpture that has moving parts. moving parts.

Having decided to become an artist, Having decided to become an artist, Calder moved to New York and enrolled Calder moved to New York and enrolled at the Art Students' League. While a at the Art Students' League. While a student, he worked for the student, he worked for the National National Police GazettePolice Gazette where, in 1925, one of his where, in 1925, one of his assignments was sketching the Ringling assignments was sketching the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Brothers and Barnum and Bailey CircusCircus. . Calder became fascinated with the Calder became fascinated with the circus, a theme that would reappear in circus, a theme that would reappear in his later work. his later work.

Calder began to create his Calder began to create his Cirque CalderCirque Calder, , a miniature circus fashioned from wire, a miniature circus fashioned from wire, string, rubber, cloth, and other found string, rubber, cloth, and other found objects. He gave elaborately improvised objects. He gave elaborately improvised shows, recreating the performance of a shows, recreating the performance of a real circus. These circus performers with real circus. These circus performers with moving parts were the start of his moving parts were the start of his invention of the mobile. He later charged invention of the mobile. He later charged an admission fee to pay his rent.an admission fee to pay his rent.

A Performance of Calder's CircusA Performance of Calder's Circus

Mobiles work with Mobiles work with LeverLevers. The pivot point is the s. The pivot point is the fulcrumfulcrum. You must move the fulcrum or adjust the . You must move the fulcrum or adjust the

load to make your mobile balance.load to make your mobile balance.

In physics, a lever is a rigid object that is used with an appropriate fulcrum or pivot point to multiply the mechanical force that can be applied to another object.

What do you think the title of this is?What do you think the title of this is?This is one of his This is one of his stabilesstabiles, because , because

it will never move.it will never move.

This is a stabile called WTC Stabile This is a stabile called WTC Stabile that sat in front of the that sat in front of the World World TradeTrade Center until 9-11, when it Center until 9-11, when it was destroyed.was destroyed.

Shiva- at Crown CenterShiva- at Crown Center

Calder's Mobile at the Nelson-Atkins Calder's Mobile at the Nelson-Atkins Museum-untitledMuseum-untitled

Calder's Stabile at the Nelson-Atkins Calder's Stabile at the Nelson-Atkins Museum title Museum title Tom's Tom's CubicleCubicle

In D.C.In D.C.

Dot Mobile at the Guggenhiem MuseumDot Mobile at the Guggenhiem Museum

This is an This is an example example of a of a tree tree mobile.mobile.

How does this mobile show How does this mobile show varietyvariety??

How is this mobile How is this mobile balancebalanced if d if there aren’t the same number of there aren’t the same number of

things on each side?things on each side?

Alexander Calder was fascinated with the Alexander Calder was fascinated with the circus. So much so that he created a whole circus. So much so that he created a whole circus out of wire and performed it for circus out of wire and performed it for people. How will your mobile tell us about people. How will your mobile tell us about you?you?