Alexander Calder: Bruce exhibits an ‘American master’

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:03

The Bruce Museum will hold a three-part Wednesday morning film series titled “Alexander Calder: Artist and Printmaker” on Nov. 4, Nov. 18, and Dec. 9 to be held in conjunction with its newest exhibition, “Alexander Calder: Printmaker” on view Oct. 31 to Jan. 31. The series examines the life and work of one of America’s most celebrated artists and explores the art of printmaking. Screenings take place in the Bruce Museum’s Bantle Lecture Gallery. The series is free with museum admission. Coffee and discussion follow each screening.

The first film in the series, Alexander Calder — American Masters Series, is a 60-minute presentation taking place at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4. The series continues at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18, with two films — Calder’s Circus (19 minutes) and Mobile by Alexander Calder (24 minutes) — which will focus on some of the artist’s better known sculptural works.

The series concludes at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9, with an exclusive screening of the PBS documentary film All About Prints, a 56-minute exploration of the art of printmaking from the perspective of influential curators, collectors, dealers, printmakers and artists. Shot in high-definition video inside museum print rooms at print fairs, galleries and print workshops throughout America and Europe, the film looks into the collaborative nature of printmaking, the democratic character of multiples and the roots of the art form.

The exhibition opens on Saturday, Oct. 31, and is on view through Sunday, Jan. 31. Organized by the Bruce Museum, the exhibition brings together 28 original Calder prints. Comprised of literary illustrations, poster designs, studies related to sculptures and paintings, and ostensibly independent compositions, the artist’s prints intersect with his more famous works while also providing insight into his working process. Photographs of the artist at work are also included.