Booklist
In art, mobile and Alexander Calder are synonymous. Indeed, without Calder, mobile might not be an art term at all. His constructions of brightly colored, flat metal shapes, some or all of which are suspended so that any current of air can move them, constitute a body of modern artwork that is genuinely popular as well as famous. They revive in adults the delighted fascination of an infant with shiny objects dangled just beyond its grasp. It is no surprise, then, to learn from Baal-Teshuva's enthusiastic sketch of Calder that he made toys, at first for his sister, when as young as eight and . . . never stopped. (Another nonsurprise is that his friend Miroinfluenced him; many Calder pieces would fit perfectly into a roomful of Miros.) He also made stabiles, or stable sculptures, paintings, and jewelry. A great many examples in all his characteristic media appear in splendid color in this paperback, which has to be one of the great current bargains among art books. Snap it up! Ray Olson
