Calder StabileAdvanced 3-D Art

Visual Arts Standards:• 2.1 Create original works of art of increasing

complexity and skill in a variety of media that reflect their feelings and points of view.

• 2.2 Plan and create works of art that reflect complex ideas, such as distortion, color theory, arbitrary color, scale, expressive content, and real versus virtual.

Artist of InspirationAlexander Calder

• Born 1898, died 1976• Best known for making

sculpture move. • Inventor of the mobile.

National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

Stabiles“Stay-beals”

Calder’s Non-moving Sculptures

Notice how his sculptures are flat planes that intersect one another.

Vocabulary:• Kinetic art = art that has actual

movement

• Stabile = a freestanding kinetic sculpture (a standing mobile)

• Minimalism = Art that emphasizes extreme simplification of form; defined by use of basic shapes, limited color palettes, and anonymity of style.

Lesson Objectives:All students will exhibit mastery in…• Creating a 3-D form from 2 or more flat

planes• Making sculpture move• Capturing the minimalist style of Calder

Materials:Mat board, paint, wire, glue

Project Requirements:• Overall sculpture is at least 12” tall• Base and mobile pieces are painted • At least 3 wire arms with at least 1

shape on each arm. • Stabile has free movement (each arm

must be balanced properly and assembled so arms do not crash into each other.)