The Jewelry of Alexander Calder

As an artist guide at the Museum of Contemporary Art here in Chicago, I has been my delight to tour the magnificent work of Alexander Calder throughout the summer.  If you are not familiar with his work, Calder is a modern artist who made work between the 1930’s and 1970’s.  He is most well known for his mobiles: delicate, playful hanging structures inspired by everything from trees to spiders to outer space that move on a whim with the passing air.

Calder was a very prolific artist and throughout his career, worked primarily with sheet metal and wire.  Knowing his fascination with the delicate, playful, approachable and beautiful as well as his love for metal and wire, it should come as no surprise that he also spent some time early in his career making jewelry.

His jewelry maintains the organic, fluid, handmade lines and shapes that are so recognizably “Calder”.  Unfortunately, the jewelry is rarely shown in institutions alongside his more traditional artwork.  The line between “art” and “crafts” is such a fine one and Calder’s work hugs that line more consistently than most modern artists.  A tinkerer by nature, his art-making process really looks more like that of a craftsman perhaps and than a “fine-artist”.  Perhaps it is also the lack of lofty concepts and ideas behind his work which is meant to be taken at face value and – brace yourself – just enjoyed that sets him apart from many other modern artists.

The resurgence of Calder as an influence in the contemporary art world may speak to a desire to revitalize craftsmanship, refinement, and beauty in the art world.  I for one hope that might be the case.  After all, what’s more engaging that a really well made object that maintains the identity of the artist and is made with love?