“THE GREAT DISCOVERY” ALEXANDER CALDER
Through 28 mei 2012, Gemeente Museum The Hague, The Netherlands. Click here for more info.
Jan and I are planning on going to visit this exhibition. It’s a large overview of his work, mostly his mobiles and sculptures. I am looking forward to it, I think his work is very inspring.
American-born artist Alexander Calder (1898–1976) is celebrated for his mobiles, stabiles, paintings, objets d’art and jewelry. Did you know that Alexander Calder began making jewelry for his sister’s dolls at age 6?
Here is Anjelica Huston wearing a Calder necklace in 1976 (The Jealous Husband made from brass wire, c. 1940, collection Metropolitan Museum of Art)
During his lifetime Calder produced 1,800 works of jewelry; each one unique, designed by him and made by his own hands. Jewelry made of brass, silver, and gold body ornaments, often embellished with found objects such as beach glass, ceramic shards, and wood.
Georgia O’ Keeffe wearing a Calders brooch in 1940
Many of his jewelry pieces were made as personal gifts for the artist’s family and friends.
Eszter Haraszty a textile designer, wearing a necklace made by Alexander Calder in 1940
Even if he had made nothing else—even if he hadn’t invented wire sculpture, the mobile, performance art—we would look at this body of work as truly remarkable. He would be famous as a studio art jeweler.
Read more about Calders jewelry here
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montserrat lacomba // Mar 11, 2012 at 18:56
He was a great artist, I admire a lot his work and I discovered his jewels only a few years ago. I admired some of them in a beautiful exhibition in Barcelona, if you like to see:
http://www.mardecolorrosa.com/2010/11/01/artists-jewels-from-modernism-to-the-avant-garde-exhibition-at-mnac-in-barcelona/
Thank you Marion I will share.
Martina // Mar 11, 2012 at 19:46
I’m an absolutly Calder-Fan! The book about is Jewelery Work is really great!
Marion Pannekoek // Mar 12, 2012 at 07:41
I saw Calders work for the first time in The Joan Miró Foundation in Barcelona abour 8 years ago. I don’t think they have jewelry in there but mostly his mobiles. Have you been there Montserrat?
Thank you for your visit and reaction Martina.
13threads // Mar 12, 2012 at 10:55
Oh, Marion, that’s where I saw his work. Thank you, I couldn’t remember. His jewelry is wonderful – especialy love Georgia O’Keeffe’s pin.
montserrat lacomba // Mar 12, 2012 at 15:11
Always is a pleasure to visit your blog Marion where I find may interesting posts, thank you so much!
Of course, I visited Joan Miró Fondation many times, is a very impontant reference since I was a student, the building by Josep Lluís Sert was an innovating construction when he made it, I like very much how light comes into the rooms There are not jewelry from Calder, the exhibition I mentioned was in another museum, the MNAC, also in Barcelona.
Thanks for visiting and for your comment in my blog Marion!