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Alexander Calder Inspired Mobile Project

 Alexander Calder

For today's lesson we will be learning about the life and art of Alexander Calder. 
Calder was an American artist born in 1898 in Pennsylvania and he died in 1976 in New York City. 
He was a sculptor known for his innovative mobiles (kinetic sculptures powered by motors or air currents) that embrace chance in their aesthetic, his static "stabiles", and his monumental public sculptures.

Dispersed Objects with Brass Gong, 1948

Triple Gong, 1948

Big Red, 1959

Model for East Building Mobile, 1972

The sculptures above are all made with painted sheet metal and metal rods. They hang from the ceiling and they move with the wind or air currents and people walk around them. 

Calder also created large scale public sculptures:

L'empennage (1953), Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
This is know as a "stabile" because it sits on a stable base. 


Three Quintains (Hello Girls) (1964) at LACMA in Los Angeles



Here's a short video for ETK-2nd graders to watch
before they start the project: 


And here's a short video for 3rd-6th graders to watch before they start the project: 




The Project

Today we'll be making our own Calder inspired mobiles! 

Example of TK-2nd grade project 

Examples of 3-6th grade project (with one extra tier)

Supplies


For TK-2nd each student will need:
2 wires
2 pieces of foam (one is cut in half, the other in quarters)
**You can cut up the foam ahead of time and let students pick their colors or just give each student a variety of colors.  
1 scissors
1 pencil 
1 approximately 12" piece of string

For 3-6th each student will need: 
Same as above, but 1 extra wire and 1 extra foam sheet if they are attempting another tier.  
**You can just bring the extra supplies and see if you have time to do the 3rd tier of the mobile.  

ETK-2nd Grade 
Step-by-Step Guide


Step 1:
Explore some of the shapes that Calder used. Note that the shapes are all abstract (no bunnies, hearts or dinosaurs) and mostly organic (shapes that might be found in nature). 
What do they remind you of?  
Maybe leaves, tear drops, rounded triangles, sun, moon, boomerangs, fish, etc?

Use a pencil to draw Calder inspired abstract shapes on one side of each foam pair:


Then put sticker sides together and cut both pieces of foam. You could also cut one side first, then flip it over, trace and cut the other side separately. 

Repeat for the two smaller foam pairs. 

For ETK-1st: you may want to cut out the shapes ahead of time. 





Step 2: 

GENTLY bend the first wire in an arc shape and turn one end up into a hook. 



*The wires can get bent out of shape easily, so just gently bend and try not to let the kids bend this first wire too much. 

Peel off the paper and stick the wire onto the largest shape. Then peel off the backing on the second shape and stick together to secure the wire. 

Step 3: 
Take the 2nd wire and attach the two smaller shapes the same way: 


Step 4:
Find the balance point by balancing the wire on one finger. 


Then bend the wire around your finger on that spot.  the loop should be on top of the wire, not below. 

For the littlest kids, you could bend this loop ahead of time right on the center point. 


Here's a really good tutorial on how to make the loop in the wire. We have the needle-nose pliers for to use in the Art Supply Closet. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uESAx7NlA0


Step 5: 
Tie approx. 12" of string to the wire to the first wire:

Then attach the second wire. 
You'll have to adjust the string position to find the balance point for the mobile: 

That's it! Teachers can keep the mobiles to hang in the classroom if they wish, or students can bring them home. 

3rd-6th Grade 
Step-by-Step Guide

Please see instructions above for creating the 2 Tier Mobile. 

If you have time, our older students can create a 3 Tier Mobile using the same exact method but adding one additional tier. 

They'll want to build from bottom to top: 


Tier 1: Two smaller (1/4 sheet) foam pieces with loop at balance point. 

Tier 2: Large (1/2 sheet) foam piece with arc. Attach both tiers together, find balance point and bend loop there. 

Tier 3: Large (1/2 sheet) foam piece with arc. String tied at balance point. 



That's it! Teachers can keep the mobiles to hang in the classroom if they wish, or students can bring them home. 

Thanks so much for teaching this lesson! 
Please reach out to us at 
artsatvw@gmail.com
if you have any questions. 




























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