Airborne 1969

Alexander Calder made this in 1969 with paint on paper. Just look at that red circle, dripping, suspended, so vibrant! It feels like the paint was almost thrown on, landing just so, with these lines trailing off like gravity is doing its thing right there on the page. I can imagine Calder in his studio, probably a bit messy, definitely full of playful energy. What was he thinking as he let the paint fall? Was it a deliberate act, each drop considered, or was he just letting go, trusting the process? The thin black lines, like wires, connect the dots, or maybe they're antennae, picking up signals from some other dimension. It’s all about balance and movement, echoing his famous mobiles, like a dance frozen in time. You know, painting is often about this conversation with other paintings, so even though Calder is known for his sculpture, you see that he is thinking about line and form here too.