Alexander Calder’s playful, mobile sculptures are loved by museum goers, children and vast swaths of the general public.
That’s probably why he has prevailed as one of the most recognized and popular artists of the 20th century. It’s also the reason why he has been disregarded, ignored ā even denigrated ā in art schools, among critics and by serious contemporary artists trained to think and work conceptually.
But a new generation of artists is rediscovering Calder and embracing his forms, use of materials and sense of fun.
Starting Sunday, the Orange County Museum of Art is presenting “Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art: Form, Balance, Joy.” Organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, the exhibition is one of the first to place Calder in the context of modernism (1910-60s) and its influence on young artists working today.
The OCMA show is also the only West Coast appearance for this show, which started in Chicago, traveled to the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, and will continue on to the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University in North Carolina. The OCMA show runs through Sept. 4.
Read the entire OC Register article here.
Learn more about our Calder art curriculum here.