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Calder’s Universe at Whitney Museum of American Art, 1976

Featured Exhibition
Calder’s Universe
14 October 1976–6 February 1977Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
Related documents  6
Calder’s Universe (1976)
Opening reception for Calder's Universe, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1976Photograph by Waintrob-Budd
Opening reception for Calder’s Universe, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1976Photograph by Waintrob-Budd
Calder’s Universe (1976)
Opening reception for Calder's Universe, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1976Photograph by Waintrob-Budd
Opening reception for Calder’s Universe, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1976Photograph by Waintrob-Budd
Calder’s Universe (1976)
Opening reception, Calder's Universe, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 14 October 1976Photograph by Budd Waintrob
Opening reception, Calder’s Universe, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 14 October 1976Photograph by Budd Waintrob
Calder’s Universe (1976)
Opening reception for Calder's Universe, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1976Photograph by Waintrob-Budd
Opening reception for Calder’s Universe, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1976Photograph by Waintrob-Budd
Calder and Georgia O’Keeffe at a dinner in Calder’s honor (1976)
Calder and Georgia O'Keeffe at a dinner in Calder's honor, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1976Photograph by Abner Symons © Women's Wear Daily
Calder and Georgia O’Keeffe at a dinner in Calder’s honor, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1976
Photograph by Abner Symons
Calder’s Universe (1976)
Calder and Georgia O'Keeffe at a dinner in Calder's honor, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1976Photograph by Abner Symons © Women's Wear Daily
Calder and Georgia O’Keeffe at a dinner in Calder’s honor, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1976
Photograph by Abner Symons
Selected works  102
The Flying Trapeze (1925)
The Flying Trapeze, 1925
Cirque Calder (1926–1931)
Cirque Calder, 1926–1931
Horse and Rider (1926-31)
Horse and Rider, 1926-31
Kangaroo (1927)
Kangaroo, 1927
Josephine Baker III (c. 1927)
Josephine Baker III, c. 1927
Soda Fountain (c. 1927)
Soda Fountain, c. 1927
Elephant (1928)
Elephant, 1928
The Elephant Hunter’s Chair (maquette) (1928)
The Elephant Hunter's Chair (maquette), 1928
Romulus and Remus (1928)
Romulus and Remus, 1928
Wire Sculpture by Calder (1928)
Wire Sculpture by Calder, 1928
Erhard Weyhe (1928)
Erhard Weyhe, 1928
Jimmy Durante (c. 1928)
Jimmy Durante, c. 1928
Dowager (1928)
Dowager, 1928
Sow (1928)
Sow, 1928
Rearing Stallion (c. 1928)
Rearing Stallion, c. 1928
The Brass Family (1929)
The Brass Family, 1929
Circus Scene (1929)
Circus Scene, 1929
Goldfish Bowl (1929)
Goldfish Bowl, 1929
Haltérophile (1930)
Haltérophile, 1930
Chat (1930)
Chat, 1930
Vache (1930)
Vache, 1930
Double Cat (1930)
Double Cat, 1930
Shark Sucker (1930)
Shark Sucker, 1930
Bracelet (c. 1930)
Bracelet, c. 1930
Untitled (1930)
Untitled, 1930
Sphérique I (1930)
Sphérique I, 1930
Edgar Varèse (c. 1930)
Edgar Varèse, c. 1930
Croisière (1931)
Croisière, 1931
Little Ball with Counterweight (1931)
Little Ball with Counterweight, 1931
Pantograph (1931)
Pantograph, 1931
Object with Red Discs (1931)
Object with Red Discs, 1931
In Perspective (1931)
In Perspective, 1931
Many (1931)
Many, 1931
Dancing Torpedo Shape (1932)
Dancing Torpedo Shape, 1932
Half-circle, Quarter-circle and Sphere (1932)
Half-circle, Quarter-circle and Sphere, 1932
A Universe (1934)
A Universe, 1934
The White Frame (1934)
The White Frame, 1934
Woman belt buckle (c. 1935)
Woman belt buckle, c. 1935
Tightrope (1936)
Tightrope, 1936
The Orange Panel (1936)
The Orange Panel, 1936
Swizzle Sticks (1936)
Swizzle Sticks, 1936
Mercury Fountain (1937/43)
Mercury Fountain, 1937 / 1943
Dancers and Sphere (maquette for 1939 New York World’s Fair) (1938)
Dancers and Sphere (maquette for 1939 New York World's Fair), 1938
Hollow Egg (1939)
Hollow Egg, 1939
Cage within a Cage (c. 1939)
Cage within a Cage, c. 1939
13 Spines (1940)
13 Spines, 1940
Hanging Spider (1940)
Hanging Spider, 1940
Fork (c. 1940)
Fork, c. 1940
Measuring spoons (c. 1940)
Measuring spoons, c. 1940
The Jealous Husband (c. 1940)
The Jealous Husband, c. 1940
Bita (1940)
Bita, 1940
The Spider (1940)
The Spider, 1940
Little Spider (c. 1940)
Little Spider, c. 1940
Aluminum Leaves, Red Post (1941)
Aluminum Leaves, Red Post, 1941
Un effet du japonais (1941)
Un effet du japonais, 1941
Hourglass (1941)
Hourglass, 1941
Constellation with Quadrilateral (1943)
Constellation with Quadrilateral, 1943
Wooden Bottle with Hairs (1943)
Wooden Bottle with Hairs, 1943
Constellation (1943)
Constellation, 1943
Constellation (1943)
Constellation, 1943
Bones necklace (c. 1943)
Bones necklace, c. 1943
Morning Star (1943)
Morning Star, 1943
Lentil (1944)
Lentil, 1944
Tightrope Worker (1944)
Tightrope Worker, 1944
Curt Valentin (1944)
Curt Valentin, 1944
Morning Cobweb (maquette) (1945)
Morning Cobweb (maquette), 1945
Monocle (1947)
Monocle, 1947
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1947)
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, 1947
Roxbury Fish (c. 1948)
Roxbury Fish, c. 1948
Figa fork (c. 1948)
Figa fork, c. 1948
I brooch (1948)
I brooch, 1948
Rat (1948)
Rat, 1948
Splotchy (1949)
Splotchy, 1949
Calder #1 (c. 1949)
Calder #1, c. 1949
Red Gongs (1951)
Red Gongs, 1951
El Corcovado (1951)
El Corcovado, 1951
Bird Pull-toy (1951)
Bird Pull-toy, 1951
Bifurcated Tower (1951)
Bifurcated Tower, 1951
Bird (c. 1951)
Bird, c. 1951
Araignée (1953)
Araignée, 1953
Pinwheel and Flow (1958)
Pinwheel and Flow, 1958
Big Red (1959)
Big Red, 1959
Black Widow (1959)
Black Widow, 1959
Brooch (c. 1960)
Brooch, c. 1960
Fish Pull-toy (1960)
Fish Pull-toy, 1960
The Crab (1962)
The Crab, 1962
Teodelapio (maquette II) (1962)
Teodelapio (maquette II), 1962
Southern Cross (1963)
Southern Cross, 1963
Untitled (1963)
Untitled, 1963
La Touraine (c. 1965)
La Touraine, c. 1965
Pour le Viet Nam (1967)
Pour le Viet Nam, 1967
Untitled (Fêtes I) (1971)
Untitled (Fêtes I), 1971
Untitled (Fêtes II) (1971)
Untitled (Fêtes II), 1971
Untitled (Fêtes III) (1971)
Untitled (Fêtes III), 1971
Untitled (Fêtes IV) (1971)
Untitled (Fêtes IV), 1971
Untitled (Fêtes V) (1971)
Untitled (Fêtes V), 1971
Untitled (Fêtes VI) (1971)
Untitled (Fêtes VI), 1971
Untitled (Fêtes VII) (1971)
Untitled (Fêtes VII), 1971
Untitled (Fêtes VIII) (1971)
Untitled (Fêtes VIII), 1971
Flamingo (maquette) (1972)
Flamingo (maquette), 1972
Chock (1972)
Chock, 1972
Calder BMW Art Car (1975)
Calder BMW Art Car, 1975
Related exhibitions  14

High Museum of Art, Atlanta. Calder’s Universe. 5 March–1 May 1977. Originated from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Solo Exhibition

Walker Art Center, Minneapolis. Calder’s Universe. 5 June–14 August 1977. Originated from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Solo Exhibition

Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. Calder’s Universe. 14 September–30 October 1977. Originated from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Solo Exhibition

San Jose Museum of Art, California. Calder’s Universe. 2 April–21 May 1978. Originated from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Solo Exhibition

Portland Art Museum, Oregon. Calder’s Universe. 14 June–30 July 1978. Originated from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Solo Exhibition

Phoenix Art Museum, Arizona. Calder’s Universe. 27 August–8 October 1978. Originated from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Solo Exhibition

Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, Nebraska. Calder’s Universe. 4 November–17 December 1978. Originated from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Solo Exhibition

Loch Haven Art Center, Orlando, Florida. Calder’s Universe. 7 January–25 February 1979. Originated from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Solo Exhibition

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Calder’s Universe. 15 March–13 May 1979. Originated from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Solo Exhibition

Currier Gallery of Art, Manchester, New Hampshire. Calder’s Universe. 2 June–29 July 1979. Originated from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Solo Exhibition

Seibu Museum of Art, Tokyo. Calder’s Universe. 23 September–29 October 1979. Originated from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Solo Exhibition

Kita-kyushu Municipal Museum of Art, Japan. Calder’s Universe. 3–25 November 1979. Originated from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Solo Exhibition

Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Kobe, Japan. Calder’s Universe. 22 December 1979–3 February 1980. Originated from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Solo Exhibition

Yokohama City Gallery, Japan. Calder’s Universe. 10 February–9 March 1980. Originated from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Solo Exhibition
Selected publications  18

Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. Calder’s Universe. Exhibition catalogue. 1976. Text by Jean Lipman. Revised and issued as a monograph in 1989.

Solo Exhibition Catalogue

“Newsmakers.” Newsweek (25 October 1976).

Magazine

“Calder in the Kitchen.” House & Garden (November 1976).

Magazine

“Two Monuments Meet.” People Magazine (8 November 1976).

Magazine

Advertising Age (8 November 1976).

Magazine

Halasz, Piri. “America’s Own Version of Matisse and/or Picasso–’Sandy’ Calder.” Smithsonian, vol. 7, no. 9 (December 1976).

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Magazine

Hobhouse, Janet. “The Witty, Inventive, Anti-Monumental ‘Universe’ of Alexander Calder.” Art News, vol. 75, no. 10 (December 1976).

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Magazine

“Calder.” GT (December 1976).

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Magazine

“The New York Times Magazine.” Advertising Age (6 December 1976).

Magazine

“Modernism in a Major Key.” The New Leader (6 December 1976).

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Magazine
Alexander Calder: July 22, 1898–November 11, 1976, Memorial Service

Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. Alexander Calder: July 22, 1898–November 11, 1976, Memorial Service. Memorial program. 1976.

Unpublished Document or Manuscript

“Calder’s Toy World.” New York Sunday News, 19 December 1976.

Newspaper

Calder’s Universe (1977). Museum at Large and the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. 16mm, color, sound (English); 26 min. Directed and produced by Paul Falkenberg and Hans Namuth; narration by Louisa Calder, Tom Armstrong, and John Russell.

Film

Burdi, Richard. “Alexander Calder 1898–1976.” Stevens Indicator (Winter 1977).

Magazine

“Goings on About Town.” New Yorker (7 February 1977).

Magazine

Lipman, Jean. “Calder’s Universe.” Book Digest (March 1977).

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Magazine

Bui, My-Chau. “Calder’s Woods.” AE Concepts in Wood Design, no. 14 (March–April 1977).

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Magazine

“Calder: He Gave Pleasure.” Horizon (May 1977).

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Magazine
Chronology  4
14 October 1976–6 February 1977

The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, with Jean Lipman as curator, exhibits “Calder’s Universe,” a major retrospective. The exhibition travels to fifteen cities throughout the United States and Japan.

20 October 1976

Calder is honored at a dinner at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Attending are sixty guests, including Georgia O’Keeffe, André Kertész, Arthur Miller, Louise Nevelson, Marcel Breuer, John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Virgil Thomson, Robert Penn Warren, and Philip

Johnson.

11 November 1976

Calder dies in New York City at the home of his daughter Mary.

6 December 1976

The Whitney Museum of American Art holds a memorial service. Officiating is director Tom Armstrong, with remarks by Sweeney, Saul Steinberg, cartoonist Robert Osborn, and Arthur Miller, and with a solo violin performance by Alexander Schneider.

Archive
Exhibitions / 1963–1976: Monumental Works 4

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York. Alexander Calder: A Retrospective Exhibition. 6 November 1964–31 January 1965.

Musée National d’Art Moderne, Paris. Calder. 8 July–15 October 1965. Originated from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York.

Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France. Calder. 2 April–31 May 1969.

Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. Calder’s Universe. 14 October 1976–6 February 1977.

Related Timeline
1963–1976
1963–1976 Monumental Works

In 1963, Calder completed construction of a large studio overlooking the Indre Valley. With the assistance of a full-scale, industrial ironworks, he began to fabricate his monumental works in France and devoted much of his later working years to public commissions. Calder died in New York in 1976 at the age of seventy-eight.