Calder-style Kinetic Sculpture



Triangles and Arches, Alexander Calder (1965)

We began our Calder (1898-1976) unit by watching "Alexander Calder's Happy Art," courtesy of YouTube, where we saw many fine examples of his art, along with a few very funny photos of the artist himself. An abstract, kinetic (moving) artist, Calder is represented in the Empire Plaza major modern art collection by two pieces. Triangles and Arches (1965) is displayed in the water fountain closest to the NYS Museum and Four at Forty-Five (1966) hangs on the plaza level of the Corning Tower. Students were instructed to design and then create a kinetic sculpture, that is, one that had a moving, mobile-like aspect to it. They came up with some fantastic ideas and equally fantastic results. (For more on Calder, watch this YouTube video.)




Four at Forty-five, Alexander Calder (1966)

Here are some of the students' projects:



Ethan C., 8th

Hunter M., 8th

Aaron C., 6th

Alyssa T., 8th

Gracie P., 8th

Ben B., 7th

Colby, 5th

Eli H., 5th

8th graders at El Mariachi's

In June, I took the 8th graders on a field trip to the Empire State Plaza. We enjoyed a tour of the modern art, a tour the Civil War exhibit (NYS Museum), and a quick glance at some of Gordon Park's photographs. He's well-known as for his phogo essays in Life magazine and for directing the movie Shaft. We covered a lot of territory in one day and enjoyed a delicious lunch at El Mariachi's, (see photo left). We have just finished a photography unit so it was great to see Park's American Gothic, as well as enlarged photos of some of Matthew Brady's photos of the Civil War.

8th graders on the Plaza (Gracie is 3rd from the left)