Calder: Gravity and Grace is a prestigious publication that serves as a comprehensive exploration of the pioneering work of American sculptor Alexander Calder (1898-1976). Curated and presented by the renowned art curator and historian Carmen Giménez and Alexander S. C. Rower, the book focuses on the revolutionary nature of Calder’s art.
The book’s title, “Gravity and Grace,” perfectly captures the central theme of Calder’s most famous inventions: the mobile and the stabile. It highlights the delicate balance he achieved between physical weight and visual lightness, and between solid form and animated movement.
Key focuses of the book typically include:
- The Birth of the Mobile: It delves into Calder’s innovation of introducing actual movement into sculpture, creating works that dance and shift with air currents.
- The Stabile: The book also examines his large-scale, stationary sculptures that, despite their grounded nature, possess a sense of dynamic energy and abstract form.
- Masterful Execution: It showcases how Calder’s background in engineering and his playful, intuitive approach to form and color allowed him to redefine modern sculpture.
The book is known for its high-quality reproductions and insightful essays. It is considered an essential volume for understanding how Calder brought abstract art to life, imbuing steel and wire with a unique sense of poetry, motion, and joy.
