Archive
See highlights from 1953–1962 on the timeline Large-scale Developments and Intercontinental Projects
Works
Chronology 126
Calder’s mother, Nanette Lederer Calder, dies.
Calder 1966, 255
Perls Galleries, New York, exhibits “Alexander Calder ‘1960.’”
CF, exhibition fileMaeght Éditeur publishes Poètes Peintres Sculpteurs that includes an original lithograph by Calder and “Un Souffle Ombilical,” a poem by Jean Davidson.
CF, object fileCalder performs Cirque Calder.
CF, Calder to Pichette, 6 February 19611961
The Calders’ granddaughter, Andréa Davidson, is born in Tours, France, to Sandra and Jean Davidson.
CF, birth certificate
Perls Galleries, New York, exhibits “Alexander Calder / Joan Miró.” The catalogue includes texts written by each artist about the other.
CF, exhibition fileThe Calders return to France.
CF, passportCalder performs Cirque Calder in Saché.
CF, Calder to Piper, 30 MarchMary Calder and Howard Rower marry in New York.
CF, marriage record; CF, Louisa to Clapp, 26 July; Calder 1966, 284Carlos Vilardebó directs Le Cirque Calder, a film with narration by Calder.
CF, project file; CF, Calder to the Pipers, 3 AugustOn their way to Le Havre, Calder and Louisa pay a visit to painter Pierre Tal-Coat in Normandy. Calder is envious of the size of his studio and is inspired to build a much larger studio of his own: But the size of the studio gnawed at me the moment I saw it, and I became very jealous. So, after our
arrival in Roxbury, I immediately wrote Jean at the Moulin Vert, in Saché, asking to have a big studio built as soon as possible.
The Calders leave Europe via Le Havre on the ship Liberté. Also on board are Mark Rothko and his wife, Mary [Mell], as well as the collector Herbert Lust.
CF, passport; AAA, Calder to Perls, 24 August, CF, correspondence fileThe Calders arrive in New York.
CF, passport1962
Calder and fellow artist Ben Shahn act as honorary co-chairmen for the Artists Committee to Free Siqueiros to call for the release of the Mexican painter, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and they promote an exhibition at the ACA Galllery of his work. Under arrest since 1960,
Siqueiros is freed 14 June 1964.
The Calders’ grandson, Holton Rower, is born in New York to Mary and Howard Rower.
CF, birth certificate
Calder begins to purchase parcels of a hilltop property in Saché near François Premier for the construction of his new studio
CF, deed of salePerls Galleries, New York, exhibits “Alexander Calder: 1962.”
CF, exhibition fileIn a letter to Giovanni Carandente, Calder agrees to a proposal to make a sculpture for the Spoleto Festival in Italy. He decides to make “a stabile, which will stand on the ground, + arch the roadway.” His work results in Teodelapio, a monumental stabile, which is completed in
August 1962.
Calder travels to France.
CF, passportCalder finds Etablissements Biémont, an iron works near Saché, to fabricate his monumental works.
Calder 1966, 264Calder flies to London.
CF, passportTate Gallery, London, exhibits “Alexander Calder: Sculpture–Mobiles,” a retrospective. The catalogue’s introduction is written by Sweeney.
CF, exhibition file
Calder flies to Rome.
CF, passportThe Stillmans visit the Calders in Saché. Rufus Stillman photographs the family.
CF, Calder to Stillman, 4 June, 17 JulyCalder, along with Alfred H. Barr, Jr., receives the Annual Award for an Outstanding Contribution to American Art from Art in America magazine.
CF, awards file; "Annual Award," 1962Calder returns to New York.
CF, passport