Page 79 - Contemporary Art and Old Masters

Part of the exhibition will focus on the artist’s work
up until his midcareer retrospective at MoMA in 1943,
including the wire sculpture Josephine Baker (III) (c.
1927); A Universe (1934), the first work 2 by Calder to
enter the Museum’s collection; painted sculptural reliefs,
works on paper, and rarely seen motorized works, all
from the 1930s; a group of Constellation sculptures from
the 1940s; and a selection of jewelry made by Calder
for his family and friends. Drawn from MoMA’s archives,
photographs and correspondence between the artist
and various collaborators, such as Alfred H. Barr Jr. and
James Johnson Sweeney, will illuminate Calder’s close
relationship with the Museum. The other section of the
exhibition will trace the development of Calder’s practice
after his 1943 retrospective at MoMA and will include
the hanging mobile Snow Flurry, I (1948) from MoMA’s
collection, along with a digitized film of Calder at work
by Swiss artist Herbert Matter from 1950, and a selection
of large-scale sculptures. Modern from the Start will be
a celebration of Calder’s work, while also presenting
new research and scholarship through the gallery
presentation and an accompanying catalogue.

Alexander Calder. Sandy’s Butterfly. 1964. Painted stainless sheet steel
and iron rods, 12'8"x 9'2"x 8' 7" (386 x 279 x 261 cm). The Museum of
Modern Art, New York. Gift of the artist. © 2021 Calder Foundation, New
York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

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