Known for his so-called mobiles, suspended installations that respond to movement with the faintest of air, the work of Alexander Calder has long been a source of interest for the crew at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. It seems Calder’s explorations of suspension and equilibrium have provided inspiration for the Selby’s dynamic displays of epiphytes, vegetation often referred to as air plants because they grow atop other plants. As The Selby is home to the best scientifically documented collections of epiphytic orchids and bromeliads in the world, the idea of an exhibition exploring Calder’s work in relation to the gardens’ plant life took root and flourished. Thus, Alexander Calder: The Nature of Movement (through May 31) recasts the artist’s mobiles in vignettes assembled by the venue’s horticultural team at the Downtown Sarasota campus.
At its heart, the interactive exhibit is a showcase of environmental creativity (plants are nature’s artworks after all) and human innovation. Starting at The Selby’s welcome center, colorful metal planes that recall Calder’s mobiles are interlinked with a variety of green life. In the Display Conservatory, it’s bonsai and rocks melded together with armatures against a red background. Near an outdoor area by Sarasota Bay, it’s a group of twisting sabal palms poking through holes in the sculpture pieces (a composition titled Sabal Stabiles). Beyond the vignettes, the presentation features original Calder lithographs, silkscreens, and a mobile on loan from the nearby Ringling Museum of Art.
“This exhibition offers a thoughtful exploration of Calder’s profound engagement with the natural sciences,” says Selby CEO and President Jennifer Rominiecki. “We are proud to continue advancing our interdisciplinary mission through this meaningful initiative.”
Story Credits:
Text by Christopher Day
Photos courtesy of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
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