D E E P S P A C E S P A R K L E & T H E M E M B E R S C L U B !1

All About Alexander CalderA N S W E R K E Y

1. What is the definition of FORM?

NAME:____________________________________ CLASS:________________________________

Alexander Calder. Red and Yellow Vane. 1934. Sheet

metal, lead, and paint

Alexander Calder was born in Philadelphia in 1898.

Both of his parents were artists, so it was natural that

Alexander became an artist, too.

Prior to World War II, Calder sculpted with wood.

After the war, he began to sculpt with sheet metal

and painted the metal with hues of black, red, blue

and white.

Alexander is most famous for inventing the MOBILE

which is a balanced sculpture that moves. This is

called KINETIC SCULPTURE.

He also created sculptures that don’t move. They are

called STABILES.

2. List at least 3 elements of art you see in Calder’s

sculpture pictured on the right (be as specific as

possible).

Objects that are three-dimensional

*Answers may vary, but these are prominent.

1. Form (it is a 3D sculpture)

2. Primary colors (red & yellow)

3. Geometric shapes

D E E P S P A C E S P A R K L E & T H E M E M B E R S C L U B !2

Alexander Calder. Waves. 1973.

3. Would you identify this artwork on the

left (Waves) as realistic or abstract? Explain

your answer.

Alexander Calder. Untitled. 1972. Lithograph. Piet Mondrian. Composition A. 1923. Oil paint on canvas.

4. Use the artworks below to complete the Venn diagram on the next page. Include at least 3 similarities and 3 differences.

This artwork is abstract because it

appears to be a seascape, but the colors

and shapes do not look like they would

be in real life.

D E E P S P A C E S P A R K L E & T H E M E M B E R S C L U B !3