BROOCH 1936

This is a BROOCH made out of wire by Alexander Calder. It's so delicate and linear! It seems that this piece came into being through bending, twisting, coaxing, and fixing. I just love the idea of taking the most industrial material like wire and making it super delicate. It must have been like drawing in air, feeling the tension and give of the metal, making decisions in real time about where to bend next. I can imagine him playing with it, moving it around, seeing how light catches on the metal in different ways, and thinking about how it would sit on someone’s body. There is something so playful about this flower, and the idea of wearing it must have brought Calder great joy. This piece makes me think about other artists like Giacometti who used wire to create sculptural forms that are both strong and fragile. Ultimately, it is a reminder that artists are always in conversation with one another, borrowing and building on ideas across time.