Join us for a captivating all-day exploration of the life and legacy of artist Alexander Calder. Free with admission, this series of public talks, gallery tours, film screenings, and more, enable esteemed scholars of Calder's work to share insights on the artist's influence on modern art, distinct artistic process, and lasting cultural impact. Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of one of the 20th century's most influential artists.
SCHEDULED LECTURES & PROGRAMS
11–11:15 am
Exhibition Overview with José Carlos Diaz
The symposium will kick off with a brief overview of Calder: In Motion, The Shirley Family Collection by José Carlos Diaz, SAM Susan Brotman Deputy Director for Art, in the Plestcheeff Auditorium.
11:15 am–Noon
SAM Talks: Elizabeth Hutton Turner
University of Virginia Professor Elizabeth Hutton Turner will take the stage of the Plestcheeff Auditorium to deliver a lecture titled Calder as the New American in Paris, 1926-1933. Transporting visitors back to the 1920s when record numbers of Americans were settling in Paris, she'll examine the artistic movements and cultural influences that shaped the early years of Calder's career.
Elizabeth Hutton Turner is a curator and professor whose scholarship highlights Calder's international impact on modern art. Turner organized the 2004 exhibition Calder/Miró: A New Space for Imagination, serves as an advisor to the Calder Foundation, New York, and is the author of several works including Calder, Scale and the Problem of Seeing It (2021) and Framing a Paradox: Alexander Calder’s Hollow Egg (2021). Turner is currently working on a new project titled Alexander Calder: A Biography of Objects.
11:30 am–Noon
Exhibition Tour: Calder
On the museum's third floor galleries, visitors can take a guided tour of Calder: In Motion, The Shirley Family Collection.
12:30–1 pm
SAM Films: Shorts Selected by the Calder Foundation
Back in the Plestcheeff Auditorium, a selection of short films recommended by the Calder Foundation will be screened. These films offer a unique perspective on Calder's fascinating life and work.
1–1:45 pm
SAM Talks: Dr. Vanja Malloy
The symposium's second lecture of the day—titled Calder's Science and Art—will be delivered by Dr. Vanja Malloy in the Plestcheeff Auditorium. This informative talk will assess the profound influence of scientific advancements and astronomical discoveries on modern art, focusing on the remarkable associations with Calder's iconic mobiles, which reflect the artist's interests in abstract concepts like descriptions of energy. With Dr. Malloy as their guide, visitors will explore how Calder's innovative use of balance, movement, and form reflects humanity's evolving understanding of the cosmos.
Dr. Vanja V. Malloy is an accomplished museum director, curator, scholar, and community builder. In 2022, she was appointed the Dana Feitler Director of the Smart Museum of Art. She holds a Ph.D. in Art History from the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London, a master’s degree in American Fine and Decorative Arts from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, and a bachelor’s degree from Duke University. Her doctoral studies examined the cross-disciplinary exchange of modern art, science, and technology in the early 20th century.
2–3 pm
SAM Talks: Calder Panel with Dr. Vanja V. Malloy, Jed Perl, and Elizabeth Hutton Turner
In this dynamic panel discussion, art critic Jed Perl will join Dr. Vanja V. Malloy and Elizabeth Hutton Turner in the Plestcheeff Auditorium for an in-depth look at their extensive research and studies on the life and work of Calder. Together, these distinguished scholars will contemplate Calder's innovative techniques, artistic evolution, and ongoing influence on the art world.
3:30–4 pm
SAM Films: Shorts Selected by the Calder Foundation
A selection of short films recommended by the Calder Foundation will be screened in the Plestcheeff Auditorium once again. These films offer a unique perspective on Calder's fascinating life and work.
3:30–4:30 pm
SAM Shop: Book Signing with Jed Perl
Acclaimed author Jed Perl will conduct a book signing at SAM Shop & Gallery. Visitors are invited to meet the author, purchase his books, and get them personally signed.
This all-day program follows SAM Talks: Jed Perl on Friday, May 17 from 7–8:30 pm. Delve into the universe of Alexander Calder by attending this enlightening talk from Perl, a renowned art critic, author, and Calder biographer.