Editor's Choice: Calder's Creations

As an artist, Alexander Calder was as generous as he was prolific. When he was a child, he created sketches and small toys for his older sister to play with and enjoy. For over half a century, he created artwork and more practical objects that he gave to his friends, family, and neighbors. Though Calder was a highly prolific artist, some of his most intriguing works were never commercialized and, as such, we are very proud to feature them in this exhibition for the first time.

The Calder exhibition at Heather James Fine Art provides a unique view into Calder’s generous nature as many of the works in this show were given as gifts and never commercialized. Many of the works in the show have not been seen in public for decades and they provide interesting insights into one of America’s most creative artists. Although this exhibition features a wide variety of Calder's work, I chose a small selection of works from the exhibition that provide a wonderful insight into Calder's generosity and friendship.

Among the many treasures in this exhibition is a standing mobile, dated to circa 1948, which belonged to the family of one of Calder’s neighbors who became close family friends. A portrait of the playwright Arthur Miller (pictured below), drawn on the side of his Connecticut barn, was carefully removed and framed to ensure its longevity. A very early gouache from 1945, given as an anniversary gift to the parents of the present owner, depicts the couple in Calder’s colorful and often spindly style. A silver bracelet (pictured top of page), made in the early 1960s, was given to a family friend whose husband helped Calder construct his studio in Roxbury. Another one of Calder’s objects, a brass wire drawer pull, was made to serve a mundane task yet does so with the beauty and simplicity of two interlocking wires.