Maquette for Flamingo 1972

Editor: Okay, next up is Alexander Calder's "Maquette for Flamingo" from 1972, crafted from metal. The first thing that grabs me is the color, this vibrant, almost aggressive red, set against what looks like pure blackness. I'm curious, what sort of presence do you think this work embodies? Curator: It’s interesting that you used the word "presence." I agree entirely. To me, Calder's work is almost like a choreographed dance frozen in metal. Look at the sweeping curve against the sharp angles. What feelings arise when considering it as a sketch or draft? It has such an intimate relation to how large structures can affect those who find themselves near it. Editor: A dance, that’s lovely! Knowing this is a maquette, a small model for a much larger sculpture, does change things for me. It makes me consider its monumentality, what that scale would mean. Does the vibrant red color affect the feeling evoked? Curator: Absolutely! Imagine encountering the actual 'Flamingo' sculpture downtown, piercing the grey urban landscape. It's not merely a color, it’s a statement! Calder was brilliant in playing with those juxtapositions—intimacy and monumentality, movement and stillness. Consider its reflection in a body of water or pane of glass. That contrast would surely affect one’s perspective! Editor: It definitely prompts some serious imagination when we can relate a sketch to its reality. Thanks so much for your perspectives. Curator: My pleasure! Art is a wonderful puzzle when one has to try imagining its future and legacy!