Calder's Universe

by Jean Lipman, Ruth Wolfe (Editor)

Pictures and appraises an extensive number of objects from every phase and area of the internationally acclaimed artist's varied career, providing an exuberant homage to an artist of amazing versatility and versatile delight

Genres: Art, Biography

351 pages, Hardcover

First published February 21, 1976

Reviews

[Lloyd Downey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely book. I've just gone back to it after many years to do a short review and I'm amazed at how well it has stood the test of the years. It's rather biographical of Andy Calder and covers his childhood, and years in Paris rarther well. I was impressed by the fact that Andy had a workshop at at the age of 10 and always had a workshop after this. He comes across as a thoroughly likeable person as well as a highly inventive artist-craftsperson. At one stage....after reading this book, I tried my hand at making a figure out of one single piece of wire and it's been hanging on the wall of various houses ever since. (I think it may have been binned recently). But I've really liked Calder's work and after reading (or seeing a documentary on him) he gave out the tip that to make mobiles, you simply start at the bottom piece and work your way up.......I gave it a try. This would have been in about 1973 and I was in NZ so I used a long stiff and hard piece of kelp as the base horizonta (readily available on the sea shores of NZ). All went well for about a week but then the humidity changed and the kelp sagged into a bedraggled ribbon.
Lovely pictures...... and many of them....... both in colour and black and white. And the book is large format so we have the benefit of the larger size to appreciate the pictures. I've also had the benefit of seeing Calder's work in many locations throughout the world ...including in odd locations such as the Hakone Art Museum in Japan. He's such a delightfully inventive character ...ranging from miniature circus performances, to jewellery, fabrics, theatre costumes and sets, wood sculpture, oil paintings, mobiles, stabiles, and even decorated aeroplanes. It's mentioned that as a child he saw a combination of colour in a football teams insignia....red, blue and black and he's always liked this combination. I guess it helped his career that he grew up surrounded by artists (he father was a sculptor) and, although he enrolled in Engineering at college he was able to turn his engineering skills into art. Probably of great use when talking to the steel fabricators who turned his maquette's into major structures. Love the book. An easy five stars from me.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and still enjoy leafing through it.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calder’s Universe was written to accompany a touring exhibition of Calder’s work in 1977. Author Lipman was a collector who knew Calder socially. Sponsored by the Whitney Museum (curators of the exhibition), Lipman illustrates Calder’s lesser-known types of work as well as his popular mobiles, stabiles, wire sculptures, jewelry, and gouaches. Of great interest are his line drawings, whimsical household objects, mixed media animals, hand-painted full size airplanes, and his innovative theatrical productions. Of course his Circus, a group of miniature kinetic sculpture “performers” fabricated from wire and found objects and owned by the Whitney, are prominently featured.

The text contains more art commentary and art society history than insight into Sandy Calder’s personality and family life, though a few personal vignettes are offered. A selection of photographs of the artist at various activities and stages of life nicely compliments the many artwork plates. More color plates would have been desirable, but pre-digital production made these very expensive. The final chapter gives a chronological synopsis of Calder’s artistic life, including education, studio locations, exhibitions, etc. Calder died shortly after the Whitney exhibition opened and this volume was published. Also, many of the smaller artworks pictured are captioned “Present Location Unknown.”

Though not at all a substitute for experiencing Calder’s work firsthand, nor will it give much insight into the man himself, this book is still a valuable resource for those who want to learn more about Calder’s art. In particular, his wire work, graphic art, and line drawings reveal a whimsical side not always obvious in his more easily accessed mobiles and stabiles. Recommended for both beginner and advanced students and fans of Calder’s work.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are few, though still some, images of his works. It is mostly text, and while it is perfectly solid, it doesn't blow me away.

[Freder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calder is one of my favorites and this is a good, comprehensive representation of his work. Not enough color, though.