Cathy's Art Diary

Disappointing exhibition at Tate Modern looking at Alexander Calder’s sculptures both mobiles and mechanical works. I say disappointing as a number of years ago I went to an exhibition at Calder’s work from when he was in Paris which was delightful and at which the works were allowed to move but sadly just under 10 years on they are too fail. It seems to be strange to be in an exhibition of works about movement where there is no movement. However, as last time, I really liked his wire portraits which were displayed well to allow their shadows to add to the effect. I loved the one of Josephine Baker with spiral boobs but again such a shame that it was no longer allowed to dance. There was a great room near the end of the classic mobiles and some floor sculptures.   It was lovely to see a room with most people looking up! Closes 3 April 2016. Reviews Times Guardian Telegraph Independent Evening Standard  

Super exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art looking at the work done by Alexander Calder when he lived in Paris and the influence that time had on the rest of his career. It was particularly interesting following on from the current exhibition at the Royal Academy of the work of the Galerie Maeght which featured Calder. It started well with the wire portraits he had made of people he met in Paris exhibited beautifully against a white wall and lit so you saw the shadows they threw. Star of the show had to be the room devoted to the circus he built at this time which he could use to generate income from giving shows. The circus itself was set up but with it were films of how it worked. The whole thing was charming! I loved the two figures which came on and took a third off on a stretcher after and accident and the kangaroo! A room at the end showed how his work changed on visiting Mondrian’s studio and culminated in a series of large scale mobiles including “Small Sphere and