Interactive image

This piece is titled Arc of Petals by Alexander Calder created in 1941. This piece is entirely hand crafted and inspired by Calder's friends Joan Miro and Jean Arp.

The aspect of this being handmade draws on the kinetic side of this work. He poured out his own kinetic energy stored within his hands and body to create this work. not only does this work draw on the energy and movements of nature, but it will always contain the energy of Calder's hands and body adding a layer of kinetic stored energy.

these metal petals draw on the human drive to relate things to other things we know and understand. As they are in the shape of leafs and flower petals, our mind makes that connection of an organic object even tho they are metal and not attached to a living plant.

The perception of us making the connection of this being a "plant" although we know it is not goes deeper than just seeing the petals. An important aspect of kinetic art is the movement of the object. The constant change in the shape and form of the object is the exact thing that brings it to life. Just as George W. Ricky says in The Morphology of Movement, "The kinetic field is far from crowded…probably the difficulties and limitations are not yet sufficiently recognized to invite the best talents…" (Rickey, p. 229) This work as a still object does not portray the same thing as when viewing the work in motion.