Pipecleaner Mobiles: Studying the Art of Alexander Calder with Preschoolers

We often think of mobiles as something for the nursery but truly mobiles are for all ages! Nobody knew this better than Alexander Calder who's wonderful mobile sculptures changed forever the way we think about what an art exhibit can look like! His wire sculpture embraced the idea of 3D art that could move simply with a small current of air which meant that everyone who visited the exhibit would view a completely different version of the same installation each time!

I love to show the kids the work of an artist before we start our study and so I set up the Calder website on the dining room table alongside the pipecleaners we would use to create our own mobile sculptures! However, you could just as easily show your little ones this short but lovely video clip!

First! Show them This Video!

Set up! 

Next! Simply set out the pipecleaners on the table - making sure that you have many sizes and colours available for them to form into different shapes. I propped up one that I'd formed into the shape of the letter A but that was just as a jumping off point! ​

This activity actually was a HUGE hit with my little ones and they spent the better part of an hour just watching the videos of Calder's mobiles moving in air and also twisting, bending and connecting the pipecleaners into abstract shapes that were alternately animals and any other twists of the imagination that came up!

Proudly Display!

Isn't it amazing how you can make great art with just the stuff you have around the house already? I love that and so do my little ones. ​

Now to go place this in front of the window and wait for a cool breeze. C'mon breeze! Actually I may just put this in front of the fan... Stay cool, guys!