National Gallery of Art. Alexander Calder mobile. Photo by Paul Goldfinger © 1994
Alexander Calder (1898-1976) was the son and grandson of famous sculptors. He developed the idea of a mobile—a kinetic sculpture. His last work (see above) weighs 920 pounds and is 76 feet long. It hangs in the East Building atrium of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It was installed in 1977, one year after he died.
Below is a time lapse video where the mobile moves slowly and beautifully, but with unpredictable deliberation. You can listen to the music that comes with the video, or mute it and play Wynton Marsalis (below on trumpet) performing a lovely jazz version of Rodger and Hart’s “Where or When” while you watch the You Tube video.
The beautiful Rodgers’ melody seems to float along synchronized to the mobile’s graceful motion.