Grade 4 Alexander Calder Wire Sculptures.

VELS Domain: The Arts - Visual Arts Duration of Activity: 50 minutes

Grade/ Year Level: 4
Activity Topic/ Focus: Art Practice of Alexander Calder:
Artwork: Making a Mobile
Subject Matter: Abstract Shapes and Kinetic Art
Artist: Alexander Calder

Students will create and make their own artwork inspired by Alexander Calder. Students will be
able to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding about Calders Mobile by using their
skills, techniques, imagination and creativity to develop their own Mobile.

Objectives
Students will . . .
learn about the life and work of the artist Alexander Calder
create sculpture works inspired by the work of Alexander Calder
create a self-portrait wire figure
explore various techniques for bending and manipulating wire
reflect on the art they have created

Background to learning
Student: The students have previously done an appreciation activity on the artist Alexander
Calder and his wire sculptures. They are aware that Alexander Calder sketched all of his
artworks before constructing them. Students have knowledge of the materials used by the artist
such as wire, wood and paint. Students are aware of the techniques used by the artist to construct
the mobile such as twisting bending and curving the wire into the desired shape, the use of
abstract shapes, arching lines and motions of space, balance and volume.

Teacher: The teacher has researched the works of Alexander Calder from various museum sites
and auto biographies. The teacher is aware that Alexander Calder is most famous for his wire
sculptures in particular the mobile. To make the mobile Calder used wire, wood and paint. The
techniques Calder used to construct his mobiles were the use of abstract shapes, arching lines,
motions of space and balance, volume, twisting and bending of wires and sketching. Calders
mobiles represent his abstract vision of the world around him.

Activity Resources
Scissors
Coloured electrical wire
Sketch Paper
Pencil
Computer & Projector - Powerpoint presentation
Whiteboard and white board markers
Introduction

The teacher will introduce the lesson to students using the computer and projector to present a
powerpoint presentation of Alexander Calders artwork

Possible discussion topics:

Describe methods processes in making simple sculptural forms.
Describe how art plays a role in reflecting life (e.g., in photography, quilts, architecture).
Describe how using the language of the visual arts helps to clarify personal responses to works of
art.
Identify and describe how a person's own cultural context influences individual responses to
works of art.
Discuss how the subject and selection of media relate to the meaning or purpose of a work of art.
Describe how the individual experiences of an artist may influence the development of specific
works of art.

After the powerpoint presentation has finished the teacher will then share with students that
today they will be adopting the role of Mini Calders creating and making their own Untitled
Mobile. Students will be using their imaginations to create their own facial outline which will
be the subject of the mobile.

Development - Continuous Line Contour Drawing Lesson

The teacher explains to students that during this activity they will be using a variety of
techniques to create their wire artwork sculpture.

After the power point presentation the students will be adopting the role of mini Calders
creating and making their own mobile.

Students will be using their imaginations to create their own abstract face image which will be
the subject of the mobile.

Take a sketch paper and a pencil. Students will trace their face outline using a continuous line
contour, as they are going to use this as a basis to create their wire artwork.

Students close eyes and draw their facial features tracing their index finger over face while
drawing it on the paper without taking the pencil off the paper.
After the sketch of their face is complete, the students will be given some wire to reconstruct
their sketches into a 3D shape using a long piece of continues wire. Students will shape, bend
and twist their wire to construct their mobile.

Art Terms
Abstract A style of art that is not realistic. Abstract art usually contains bold colors and lines
with geometric and organic shapes.
Form - An element of art, such as you would see in a sculpture that has three dimensions.
Geometric Shapes Any regular shape or form consisting of measurable lines and angles or
shapes from geometry; shapes with names.
Organic Shapes Any shapes or forms that are irregular; suggestive of shapes or forms found in
nature.
Space The area around, between or within objects in an artwork; three dimensional space can
be created with color, overlapping of objects and the amount of detail in the artwork.

References
ArtStarts for Kids. (2008). Retrieved from
http://artsmarts4kids.blogspot.com.au/2008/04/alexander-calder.html

Art Library. (2009). Retrieved from http://makingartfun.com/htm/f-maf-art-library/alexander-

calder-biography.htm

National Gallery of Art Washington. (2010). Alexander Calder. Retreived from

http://www.nga.gov/kids/scoop-calder.pdf

Students work sample: