HELEN WILLS II 1928

Alexander Calder made "Helen Wills II" using wire and wood. It’s like he’s sketching in three dimensions, taking line for a walk. It is so simple, almost diagrammatic, and yet it has so much vitality and movement. I love the way Calder uses the wire to create a sense of volume and space, implying form with just a few lines. Look at the way the wire bends and curves, creating a sense of tension and release. Notice the elegance of the wooden base. The curve beneath the figure is like a delicate balancing act, giving it a sense of lightness and grace. Calder's work reminds me of Joan Miró. Both artists had this incredible ability to create playful, imaginative forms that seem to dance and float in space. And both were masters of making something profound and moving out of something so simple. There’s no one “right” way to see it, and that’s what makes art so alive.