May 1

May 1 8. Lesson Alexander Calder

Erin McGee Ferrell

Lesson

Lesson 8: Alexander Calder

Lesson Preview:

EMcGee’s Studio this week!

Let’s Start!

Gather Materials:

scissors
Empty cereal box
paper (can be lined)
Thread or dental floss
Tape (any kind)

If you happen to have….extra materials for further exploration.

wire (various widths)
Needle nose pliers

Watch Lesson Video:

Things to think about:

Alexander Calder eventually filled five suitcases with his traveling circus.
Calder is know for, “Drawing in Space.”
From the age of eight, Calder had his own art workshop.
Calder was on assignment at the Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Baily Circus.
Calder loved making movable toys.

Alexander Calder’s Circus

Link to Full Alexander Calder Movie from the Calder Foundation.

EMcGee and LaRee -Vegetable Sculpture Video

Finish Mobiles.

Find a place to hang your mobiles so they move with the wind or by a fan.

A great place is under a ceiling fan. Take a video of your art moving and post to our facebook group.

Group Gallery

Erin McGee Ferrell

In my work as a contemporary artist, I strive to combine traditional oil painting techniques with innovative technology to create interactive pieces that stand the test of time. I am passionate about creating pieces that engage the viewer and invite them to explore the nuances of the artwork, without relying on technology that may become obsolete as it changes. I have also been experimenting with pigments that alter in response to environmental changes, such as thermochromic pigments that change color in response to temperature.

My work is inspired by a variety of global sources, including my own travels to diverse cultural locations such as Ecuador where I explored the use of natural pigments for painting, sourced from the Amazon Rainforest. My series, Insect Hotels: Restoration of the Garden, was inspired by my travels to Athens, Bahrain, and Germany in 2022. These experiences have greatly influenced my artistic perspective and have inspired me to push the boundaries of traditional materials and techniques. In my recent projects, I have used NFC technology to embed tags under traditional oil paint, allowing viewers to interact with the piece through their smartphones and experience audio and video elements.

Through artist residencies at Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University NYC, and Arizona State University in 2023, I am excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with other artists and scientists and explore the potential of combining traditional oil painting with technology. I create interactive work to inspire thought, emotion, and meaningful exchange. I look forward to my solo show in Manama, Bahrain February 2024. The gallery exhibition is part of Bahrain’s Spring of Culture National Celebration and is inspired by Formula 1 Racing.

International Contemporary Artist, Erin McGee Ferrell, is inspired by Maine. McGee Ferrell teaches at the University of New England and is a prominent artist in the C-word international Cancer Art and Science exhibition sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Ferrell, and Arizona State University. Over the past couple years, she has taught in Greece, Bahrain, and Germany, including working with active duty deployed military troops in the Middle East. In 2022 her work was included in Portland’s Greenhut Gallery Biennial and Thomas Moser Gallery 50th Anniversary Exhibition. McGee Ferrell has a solo Exhibition in Bahrain as a part of the National Spring of Culture 2024.

A graduate of Mount Holyoke College and University of the Arts Philadelphia, Erin McGee Ferrell has studied at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, University of Louisville in Italy, School for International Training Nigeria, Maine College of Art, SMCC, and the Artist Students League of New York.

www.ArtistAMERICAN.com

Website

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