Notes...
Sculpture
Upon viewing Umberto Boccioni's sculpture "Striding Man" for the first time, it was evident to me that in my opinion, this was the most significant important work of sculpture of its own time. All other works from Rodin to Boccioni may be dismissed. Excepting of course Alexander Calder, Marcel Duchamp, Kurt Schwitters and Giacometti. Let us take them one at a time: Alexander (Sandy) Calder- Like Joan Mitchell and many other Americans before him, spent much time in Paris and was obviously very much awareof the work of all of his contemporaries. This was good. What makes me personally so proud of him as a good example of America's contribution to the art of our time (modern art) is that he lifted sculpture to a higher plane. Whether he was or was not influenced by Futurism is really not too relevant to my discussion. What is important for me to focus on was that as an artist of "his time", he went forward on the right track.
Alexander Calder, Standing Mobile, 1937
World War I created a tremendous impact on the artists and writers of that time. It was truly an awakening and a clarion call to seek new vistas for the answers to the questions of human behavior amongst nations which was heretofore unrealized. There was perhaps a shift from microcosmic to macrocosmic. The telescope gave way to an inquiry into the mind-therefore whether or not Calder connected with the same infatuation of the Futurists regarding the dynamics of "our time" is not known. The airplane, space, the universe and speed, the radio, wireless communication were all contributing factors. It was obvious that we were over the threshold and into a new era. An era which would focus on the mind of man and its possibilities along with its limitations. The era of Freud and Jung and Adler were upon us.
In conclusion, the most important contribution of Alexander Calder was that of natural movement as part of ,or one of the ingredients of his sculptures. Moreover, not only
movement but definition of space- un-seen but felt. Space is always present. When a
person walks into a room- space is invaded. When the person stops in his tracks. He or she
replaces the space which was there before. The person then becomes like sculpture, or the equivelent of sculpture. This is the lesson I believe that was taught to us by Giacometti.
Next example- Giacometti. (to come)
Upon viewing Umberto Boccioni's sculpture "Striding Man" for the first time, it was evident to me that in my opinion, this was the most significant important work of sculpture of its own time. All other works from Rodin to Boccioni may be dismissed. Excepting of course Alexander Calder, Marcel Duchamp, Kurt Schwitters and Giacometti. Let us take them one at a time: Alexander (Sandy) Calder- Like Joan Mitchell and many other Americans before him, spent much time in Paris and was obviously very much awareof the work of all of his contemporaries. This was good. What makes me personally so proud of him as a good example of America's contribution to the art of our time (modern art) is that he lifted sculpture to a higher plane. Whether he was or was not influenced by Futurism is really not too relevant to my discussion. What is important for me to focus on was that as an artist of "his time", he went forward on the right track.
Alexander Calder, Standing Mobile, 1937
World War I created a tremendous impact on the artists and writers of that time. It was truly an awakening and a clarion call to seek new vistas for the answers to the questions of human behavior amongst nations which was heretofore unrealized. There was perhaps a shift from microcosmic to macrocosmic. The telescope gave way to an inquiry into the mind-therefore whether or not Calder connected with the same infatuation of the Futurists regarding the dynamics of "our time" is not known. The airplane, space, the universe and speed, the radio, wireless communication were all contributing factors. It was obvious that we were over the threshold and into a new era. An era which would focus on the mind of man and its possibilities along with its limitations. The era of Freud and Jung and Adler were upon us.
In conclusion, the most important contribution of Alexander Calder was that of natural movement as part of ,or one of the ingredients of his sculptures. Moreover, not only
movement but definition of space- un-seen but felt. Space is always present. When a
person walks into a room- space is invaded. When the person stops in his tracks. He or she
replaces the space which was there before. The person then becomes like sculpture, or the equivelent of sculpture. This is the lesson I believe that was taught to us by Giacometti.
Next example- Giacometti. (to come)
posted by VPepi at 8:41 PM
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