Meryl

I think this is such an interesting story.
The woman who wrote the article below for a nyc blog called mommypoppins.com is
definitely not an unschooler, but you will get the beauty of it.
I can't wait to take my ds to the show.
Meryl


You've probably already heard about the Calder Exhibit at the Whitney. It's been promoted
a lot. People love Calder's Circus, which is a miniature reproduction of an actual circus,
made from wire, cork, wood, cloth and other household objects. Calder would perform the
circus for people as his "day job" and the exhibit has videos showing how he performed it,
bringing it to life for kids.
One of the things that I love about the Alexander Calder story is something I learned
about him on a PBS American Masters program. Apparently, when he was a child, all
Calder wanted to do was play with wire. He loved to make little toys and things with scraps
of wire and his mother completely indulged this. I love this story because as a parent, we
all know that child who refuses to do what they are supposed to do and is obsessed with
one seemingly useless endeavor. How aggravating it is to try to bend children to our will
and get them to conform to the requirements of society. I love the idea that there is value
in the play of children and their obsessions and that, let to flower and grow, we may all be
surprised by what comes out of them.
Why kids will like Calder: The Paris Years
Calder exemplifies the mystique of the artist as a child who never grew up. His work is
whimsical, imaginative and fun. Of course, kids will be drawn to the Circus piece, which is
basically a big (beautiful) toy, and watching a grown man play with it is even more fun. But
children also like Calder's wire portraits for that same whimsy and imagination. They are
child-like, innocent and puzzling. And of course his mobiles are so popular for children,
they became a nursery staple.

What to do and talk about:
Puzzle over the fact that Calder invented the mobile. Really, something that we have in our
rooms at home started out as an art object, invented by an artist? Cool.
After being inspired by how Alexander Calder uses everyday objects to create new things
and his inventiveness Children may be inspired to try their own inventions and creations.
Buy a little bit of wire or use other household items to create your own animals, people,
circus or anything you feel inspired to do. Or if you're not a do-it-yourselfer try a wire art
kit, which has everything kids need to make colorful jewelry or other fun stuff from wire.
There's also an exhibit of Calder's jewelry at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that might
make a nice counterpoint for a second trip

Sandra Dodd

The show sounds great, but this quote was amusing:

> -=-Children may be inspired to try their own inventions and creations.
> Buy a little bit of wire or use other household items to create your
> own animals, people,
> circus or anything you feel inspired to do. Or if you're not a do-it-
> yourselfer try a wire art
> kit, which has everything kids need to make colorful jewelry or
> other fun stuff from wire.-=-

That kinda misses the point. YES, if a child wants to try it, great.
But I can picture lots of moms saying "Put down that Lego/violin/
videogame/Barbie and come and make something with this wire!"

Sandra



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