Jewelry by Alexander Calder is Fierce

Alexander Calder is one of the best-known creators of mobiles, stabiles and sculptures of the Modern era. On July 12, his work in handmade jewelry arrives at the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s new Perelman Building. More than 300 pieces of handmade jewelry will be on display including necklaces, brooches, bracelets, earrings and tiaras, in silver, gold and brass.

Abstractions of stylized designs like Celtic knots, swirls, leaves and fishes appear on the hand-hammered metal adornments. Calder’s jewelry reflected his interest in found objects, which also appear in his mobiles and sculptures.

The artist designed hundreds of pieces for his wife Louisa James Calder, as well as the art glitterati of the day such Georgia O’Keefe, Peggy Guggenheim, and the wives of Joan Miro, Marcel Duchamp and Marc Chagall. Dramatic as they were, these statement-making items were lightweight and meant to move with the body, as his mobiles moved in the wind.

The non-precious pieces were intended to be affordable for the everyday woman. An average necklace was priced at $25 during the 1940s. Alexander S.C. Rower, chairman and director of the Calder Foundation, (as well as the artist’s grandson) is quoted in an excellent TC Palm article on the exhibit.

It’s said fans would hold Tupperware parties for his jewelry! Better than those awful sex-toy parties, right?

Efficient, democratic and thoroughly modern, Alexander Calder is our kind of guy. The collection moves on to the Metropolitan Museum of Art November 3, 2008.

Details:

Calder Jewelry
July 12-November 2, 2008
Exhibition Gallery, Perelman Building
Fairmount & Pennsylvania Avenues
Philadelphia PA, 19130

Perelman Building Hours
Tuesday through Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission
Adults: $7
Seniors (ages 62 & over): $6
Students (with valid ID): $5
Children: ages 13-18: $5
Ages 12& under: Free
Sundays: Pay what you wish all day