Globally acclaimed American sculptor and artist, Alexander "Sandy" Calder (22 July 1898 - 11 November 1976), was known best for his moving sculptures, called 'mobile.
' Additionally, he created lithographs, paintings, tapestry, jewelry, and toys.
Born in a family of artists, Calder and his sister always had family support and were encouraged towards their creativity.
They were however, discouraged from professionally pursuing it, since it was financially challenging and uncertain career option.
Calder studied mechanical engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey and worked as a salesperson & an engineer, before finally discovering his niche in being an artist.
His most famous and unique creation is "Cirque Calder," depicting a miniature circus.
Calder's fascination for the circus came while he was working for the National Police Gazette, where one of his assignments involved sketching the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Following his move to Paris in 1926, he created "Cirque Calder," a unique and complex creation that included miniature performers, props, and animals.
The miniature circus was made from wire, cloth, string, rubber, and other found substances.
Each piece of the creation was small enough to be packed into suitcases that enabled the artist to carry it around easily and hold performances at various places.
Given the portability of the "Cirque Calder," Alexander was able to perform on both the sides of Atlantic.
With his elaborate, whimsical, and imaginative shows depicting the circus, the popularity of "Cirque Calder" soon increased, even among the Parisian avant-garde.
Calder soon began to charge an entrance fee for his two-hour show of the circus.
At its peak in 1931, "Cirque Calder" was a collection that came to occupy six suitcases.
It comprised of dozens of acrobats, dancers, trapeze artists, and animals that could lift, gallop, tumble, and perform several actions that circus performers did.
"Cirque Calder" can be referred as the beginning of Alexander Calder's interest in 'kinetic art' as well as 'wire sculpture.
' Calder was able to keep a sharp eye on the engineering balance of his creations and further develop kinetic sculptures that were labelled as 'mobiles' by Marcel Duchamp.
In essence, Calder was able to integrate his aptitude for mathematics and his study as a mechanical engineer, along with sculpture and aesthetics.
He created masterpiece such as "Cirque Calder" that depicted the qualities of a circus of humor, playfulness, suspense, and surprise, all roped in extremely beautifully.
Alexander's "Cirque Calder" is displayed at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and will be remembered as a unique piece of art and one of the best circus inspired creations of the twentieth century.