H. Scott Heist, (b.1949), Alexander Calder and White Cascades, 1976, gelatin silver print on paper, H. 20 x W. 16, James A. Michener Art Museum. Museum purchase.

Do you recognize the sculpture in the background of this photograph? It is a sculpture by the artist, Alexander Calder, who is featured in this photograph. The photographer of this work, H. Scott Heist, is a contemporary artist and essayist that currently lives in Durham, PA.

There are many interesting things to note about this photograph; the first of which is that it features the largest mobile in the world called White Cascade completed by Calder in 1976. This sculpture can be seen in the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, in the Eastburn Court. The sculpture took only two days to install in this space. It is approximately 100 feet tall, and weighs close to 10 tons! This was the site of the artist’s last major installation before his death. Calder was well-known for his moving or kinetic sculptures, or “mobiles”, which received their name by the French artist, Marcel Duchamp. His non-kinetic sculptures, or stationary works, were called “stabiles”, named by artist Jean Arp. Read More »