MYRTLE BURL 1941

Here's a look at "Myrtle Burl," a sculpture by Alexander Calder made with wire, metal, wood, and paint. The painted metal shapes hover and bob above the burl, creating a play between the manufactured and the natural. Calder's approach is a process of playful arrangement, and it's like he's trying to capture a sense of movement, like leaves or petals floating in the breeze. The way the metal is cut into these curved shapes and painted with flat, bold colors feels so playful. The primary colors are almost childlike in their directness. Take a closer look at the way the wires connect everything; they give the piece a delicate, almost fragile quality. It's this tension between the lightness of the painted metal and the heavy wood that makes the sculpture sing. Calder reminds me of Joan Miró, another artist who played with simple shapes and colors in a way that feels both whimsical and profound. Both artists remind us that art can be serious and playful at the same time, and that there's always room for imagination and wonder in the world.