Dispersed Objects with Brass Gong, 1948, Alexander Calder, 1898-1976, brass, sheet metal, wire, and paint, 19 x 66 in., Promised gift of Jon and Mary Shirley, Photo courtesy of Calder Foundation, New York / Art Resource, New York, © 2023 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
AUDIO GUIDE TRANSCRIPT
JOSÉ CARLOS DIAZ:
One of the joys about Calder's work is that one must be prepared for the unexpected …
NARRATOR:
José Diaz.
JOSÉ CARLOS DIAZ (continuing):
…whether you visit the exhibition and you see objects moving - or if you hear sounds. And so this is a wonderful example of one of Calder's works that actually contains sound.
ALEXANDER S.C. ROWER:
This particular work is one of my favorite works in the Shirley Collection.
NARRATOR:
Alexander S.C. Rower.
ALEXANDER S.C. ROWER:
Every object has an extraordinary shape except for the white disc – which, the white disc has the kind of purpose of being almost a rudder to drive the hammer, which is this red coil that strikes the gong. Even just people circumnavigating a gallery will activate the mobile, and it will occasionally give a little bright, you know, ‘ding’.
NARRATOR:
Calder’s use of sound can be related to his love of music.
ALEXANDER S.C. ROWER:
Calder was quite obsessed with music. He loved to dance. He was a famous dancer actually. If he was at a party, he would dance with a partner and then wear them out completely and then choose another partner and wear that person out completely. Which I witnessed as a young boy, of course, but much more famously was in the ‘20s and the ‘30s and ‘40s when he was out doing such things, you know.
NARRATOR:
Here, the musical vibration is a way of drawing us into the work.
JOSÉ CARLOS DIAZ:
There is a possibility it may never make sound during its presentation at the Seattle Art Museum, but the moment of surprise awaits.