The legacy of modern sculptor Alexander Calder lives on, not
only in museums, but above nearly every baby crib. The "mobile" invented by Calder is
as familiar as Kleenex and the Frisbee. Young artists are now taking a fresh
look at the work of the master, whose perfectly balanced sculptures are hugely
difficult to replicate and reveal Calder's expertise in mechanical engineering.
A new exhibition at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke
University, "Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art: Form, Balance, Joy,"
opening Thursday, focuses on Calder and his influence on a new generation of
artists.
"This exhibition will inspire a new appreciation for
Calder," said Sarah Schroth, Nancy Hanks Senior Curator at the Nasher
Museum. "I want people to feel joy. I want them to feel amazed by the
sheer genius of Calder's inventive mind."
Art and Mobiles
View a slideshow of performing seals, language machines and other of the magical art by Alexander Calder on exhibit at the Nasher Museum of Art.
The exhibition pairs 34 master works by Calder with work by
seven young artists: Martin Boyce, Nathan Carter, Abraham Cruzvillegas, Aaron
Curry, Kristi Lippire, Jason Meadows and Jason Middlebrook. The Nasher Museum
is the fourth and final venue for the exhibition, which will be on view from
Feb. 16 to June 17.
The exhibition opening and artist talk is Thursday, Feb. 16,
at 7 p.m. Lynne Warren, curator of contemporary art at the Museum of
Contemporary Art, Chicago, will give a talk with artist Nathan Carter, whose
work is part of Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art. Reception and cash bar
to follow. Artist talk and reception are free and open to the public. Admission
to the exhibition requires separate ticket purchase. Ticket information here.
Duke faculty and staff receive half-price Calder tickets for
$5 apiece (2 per I.D.).
Duke students receive free Calder tickets on same day of
admission (1 per ID)
"This is the first exhibition to explore Calder's
influence on an exciting new generation of artists." said Kimerly
Rorschach, Mary D.B.T. and James H. Semans Director of the Nasher Museum. "Visitors
will have a rare chance to see their work side by side with that of Calder, to
compare the creative use of materials to define space and explore form,
balance, color and movement."
"Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art" will fill
two gallery pavilions. A third pavilion features the installation, "Angels,
Devils and the Electric Slide: Outsider Art from the Permanent Collection,"
and includes work by artists who, like Calder, incorporate found objects and
unusual materials in their work. "Outsider Art" is on view through
July 8.
The exhibition will be complemented by programs at the
Nasher Museum, including two Free Family Day events; weeklong residencies with
artists Kristi Lippire and Jason Middlebrook; a talk by Duke engineering
professor Henry Petroski; free screenings of the 1955 film by Jean Pavileve, "Le
Grand Cirque Calder 1927," and 1961 documentary by Carlos Vilardebo, "Calder's
Circus;" gallery tours; teacher workshops and other programs.
The museum also plans to reach out to visitors from the science
and engineering communities with two free evening events for corporate sponsors
of the exhibition and their employees, including all employees of Research
Triangle Park, courtesy of The Research Triangle Park. Visitors will have the
chance to create their own mobiles in the Mary D.B.T. Semans Great Hall.
"Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art" is
organized by Lynne Warren, a curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA),
Chicago. The exhibition traveled to the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas and
the Orange County Museum of Art in California. The exhibition is accompanied by
a fully illustrated catalogue co-published by the MCA and Thames & Hudson.
Admission to "Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art"
is $10 for adults ($15 with guided tour), $5 for children 7 to 17, and free for
children 6 and under. Admission is free for Duke students (one per I.D.) and
for Nasher Museum members (two free tickets per day per membership). Admission
is $5 for non-Duke students, $5 for faculty and staff with a Duke ID and $5 for
Duke Alumni Association members with an ID card. Tickets are available by
calling (919) 684-4444 or clicking on www.events.duke.edu/calder.
Additional information is available at www.nasher.duke.edu.