Corn-meal 1977

Alexander Calder made this joyful piece, Corn-meal, with paint on canvas and I love how he embraces the flat surface. There is such a refreshing quality to this work, where the application of colour feels like pure joy, almost child-like. The texture is smooth, the colors bright and unapologetic, and the shapes are bold and playful. Look at the way the black shapes interact with the vibrant yellow and red; they create a dynamic tension. I love how the concentric circles in black and white create a feeling of movement, as if the whole composition is gently spinning around a central point. It reminds me of a hypnotic pinwheel! This piece feels like a precursor to some of the graphic styles we see later in artists like Bridget Riley and it speaks to the endless possibilities of abstraction. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be serious; it can be lighthearted, fun, and simply a celebration of color and form.