Feb 2, 2018 art lessons for kids inspired by alexander calder. Calder was an american sculptor who is best known for his colorful, whimsical abstract monumental public sculptures and his innovative mobiles, kinetic sculptures powered by motors or air currents, which embraced chance in their aesthetic. This beautifully illustrated picturebook biography fills the void with a spare, direct story that focuses on calders youth and what are, perhaps, his most kidaccessible artworks. Born in 1898 into an artistic household, calder became one of the earliest and most famous modern artists of the twentieth century. See more ideas about alexander calder, art lessons and kinetic art. Art lesson wire sculpting inspired by alexander calders.
Discover the work of alexander calder through this exciting sticker book. But when a book gets your kids excited to create too, its absolutely thrilling. The publication presents a treasury of favorite works by calder, as well as fascinating photographs of the artist in his studio. With his two golden paint brush awards, sieb posthuma is one of the top illustrators in the netherlands. A biographical picture book about the artist alexander calder, the story mainly focuses on his creation of a miniature wire circus that was popular in the 1920s.
After school, calder studied engineering but soon realised that he really wanted to be an artist. Perl throughout emphasizes calders debt to the arts and crafts movement, particularly in his ability to blend fine art with everyday objects such as childrens toys. When a book gets your kids excited to read more, thats about the most beautiful thing in the world. Book alexander calders wonderful wire letterenfonds. Alexander calder was a famous artist who invented a new type of. Best nonfiction picture books of 2014 the childrens book.
With one swift movement, his pen captures the most amazing and wonderful figures, which he highlights using the bright colours of calders later mobiles. The short answer is that alexander calder is the originator of mobiles, which is mostly correct, but calder wasnt the first one nor the only one to experiment with the art form. Alexander calder redefined sculpture by introducing into it the element of movement. Artist alexander calder s works often find an appreciative audience among kids, so its surprising that there are so few books about him for young children. Visually fascinating and emotionally engaging, those sculpturesalong with his monumental outdoor bolted sheet metal stabiles, which. American artist alexander calder is well known for his invention of the mobile and introducing movement into art. A story about alexander calder tanya lee stone, author, boris kulikov, illustrator, illus. Artist alexander calders works often find an appreciative audience among kids, so its surprising that there are so few books about him for young children. Calders whimsical world is brought to life by imaginative popups, pull tabs, lifttheflaps, and cutouts. Alexander calder or sandy was an artist truly ahead of his time. Alexander calder 18981976 is, among many, considered to be one of the most important american sculptors of the 20th century.
Alexander calder is one of the worlds most celebrated sculptors. Influenced early on by frequent visits to the circus in his youth, calder began taking drawing courses with clinton balmer in new york, in 1922 and also studied with the art students league from 192325. Alexander calder was an american sculptor and painter born in lawnton, pennsylvania. Charming text and illustrations depict the early life and work of alexander calder, whose whimsical moving wire circus gained attention in paris and new york and led to his well known mobiles. July 22, 1898 november 11, 1976 was an american sculptor who is best known for his innovative mobiles kinetic sculptures powered by motors or air currents that embrace chance in their aesthetic and his monumental public sculptures.
Calders playful abstract shapes add to the richness of the. Alexander calder is one of americas most important 20th century artists. Mike venezia examines the life and work of the twentiethcentury artist alexander calder, famous for creating the moving sculptures known as mobiles. Born into a family of artis ts, cald er s work first gained attention in paris in the 1920s and was soon championed by. See more ideas about alexander calder, sculpture art and sculpture. Calder was an influential american artist in the early 20th century and is credited with inventing the mobile.
His passion was to make fun, colorful shapes that moved naturally in the air. He is best known for his colorful, whimsical abstract public sculptures and his innovative mobiles, kinetic sculptures powered by motors or. Mobiles before calder who invented mobiles a history. Inspired by the life and work of alexander calder 18981976, posthuma has written and illustrated a book in praise of the imagination. Now in seventh grade, series heroes petra, tommy and calder first see calders. I love books that talk about a famous persons humble beginnings in a way that kids can understand. Read about his life and then explore six of his paintings, looking at the original work and then trying out your own version on the opposite page. Alexander calder was born in 1898, in lawnton, pennsylvania. No artist can put a smile on your face quicker than alexander calde. This engaging alexander calder popup book does more than teach kids about art.
Best known as the inventor of the mobile, calder redefined sculpture through introducing the element of movement to his works. And thats just what happened when my girls discovered the gorgeously produced new alexander calder popup book, alexander calder. Masterpieces by worldfamous sculptor alexander calder are used to teach quantity in this artful, readaloud board book. Most know alexander calders art to be important in the. Influenced early on by frequent visits to the circus in his youth, calder began taking drawing courses with clinton balmer in new york, in 1922 and also studied with the art. Alexander calder and his magical mobiles tells the story of calders life and career, and relates, often in the artists own words, his working methods and his own feelings about his art.
He created sculptures and design objects that participated in the larger tendencies of european and american avantgarde, uniquely combining abstract art, modernist principles, machine and cosmic imagery in his works. A hulking and exhaustively researched biography of american sculptor alexander calder 18981976, focusing on the first four decades of his life. Alexander calder has 52 books on goodreads with 480 ratings. Alexander calder and his magical mobiles lipman, jean, aspinwall, margaret. Stone elizabeth leads the way gives top billing to a minor but wellchosen aspect of alexander sandy calders distinguished career in a. Really excellent children s book that lets you interact with the artists work in a unique fashion. Books by alexander calder author of fables of aesop. Iconic american artist alexander calder is perhaps best known for his delicate, surreal mobile pieces, comprised of colored shapes, found objects and balanced spheres. Alexander calders most popular book is fables of aesop according to sir roger lestrange, w. In 1919, he received an engineering degree from stevens institute of technology, hoboken, new jersey and from 1923 to 1925, he attended the art students league, new york. This book is a great addition to any unit on art or sculpture. Alexander calder, born july 22, 1898, lawnton, pennsylvania, u. The following article is based largely on a new childrens book called alexander calder and his magical mobiles, by jean lipman. Alexander calder and his magical mobiles tells the story of calder s life and career, and relates, often in the artists own words, his working methods and his own feelings about his art.
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