Emerging Globes 1971

Alexander Calder made "Emerging Globes" in 1971 using, it seems, the simplest of means: paint on paper. I love how the colors and shapes float and interact, creating a sense of playfulness and lightness. I see Calder using simple gestures. The brushstrokes feel immediate and direct. The paint application varies, from the solid black of the lower globe to the almost scratchy texture of the orange ones. That horizontal line, slightly off-kilter, feels like a tightrope, and the globes are acrobats, balancing and dancing in space. Even the soft gray smudges above the line add depth. They are like mysterious shadows. Calder's work has always been an inspiration to me. Like Miro, he speaks to something elemental. I think these are not fixed or definitive things, but rather ongoing conversations.