THE SPIDER 1940

This elegant sculpture, made by Alexander Calder, consists of bent wire and metal plate. Materials like this are common in our everyday lives, but Calder transmuted them into something special. The Spider is made from thin metal rods which have been shaped into curves, and balanced with flat shapes at the ends. These are connected so that the slightest air current will set them in motion. It’s a careful balance between intention and chance. Each element is considered, yet its final position depends on the world around it. Calder was trained as a mechanical engineer. He brought an engineer's approach to art making, using tools like hammers, pliers, and welding torches. He saw beauty in the raw, industrial materials of the machine age, and was part of a wider trend of artists elevating the status of craft, blurrying the lines between functional design and high art.