How to Recreate a Calder Mobile

Alexander Calder is famous for his hanging and moving mobiles. The term mobile, created by Marcel Duchamp in 1931, describes Calder's kinetic sculpture, which suspends from the ceiling and moves with air in varied and spontaneous ways. Calder's mobiles are about form and color. He used abstract shapes cut from sheet metal and painted. You can, too.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Pliers
• Wire cutters
• Wire
• Sheet metal
• Aviation snips
• Soft mallet
• Drill
• Sheet metal screws or self-tapping screws
• Paint

1. Draw out your design. Calder was a prolific, popular sculptor so there are many works available for viewing online.
2. Cut your mobile pieces out of sheet metal. Use aviation snips to cut sheet metal. Calder used flat shapes, usually abstract but sometimes resembling birds, leaves and stars.
3. Shape your pieces. You can keep them flat or create dimension by bending or connecting together. Bend pieces by securing them between two blocks of wood and applying pressure by hand or tapping with a soft mallet. Join pieces together by pre-drilling a hole in both pieces and then using sheet metal screws or by using self-tapping screws that you don't have to pre-drill.
4. Incorporate color and variety into your piece. Calder used mostly primary colors. You can paint the metal pieces with bright colors. You can vary the sizes of the pieces and the shapes to add interest.
5. Drill a hole in each piece for the wire to go through.
6. Find something to hang your objects on. You can use wire for lighter objects and metal rods for heavier objects. Cut your wire to the length you want.
7. Make sure your mobile moves and is well balanced. Equal weights on both ends balance equally. Adjust the weight to create the balance you want, and adjust the length of the wire to create the visual effect you want.

Tips & Warnings

• Sheet metal is sharp. Wear gloves to protect yourself from cuts.
• Wear eye protection when cutting.

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