Art Meets Calculus in Field Trip
Trip to Calder exhibit highlights intersection of art, science and math.
Last week, Montrose students from Art 11, Art 12 and AP Calculus classes were called to greatness as thinkers and scholars as they examined the intersections between art, science and mathematics.
The classes traveled to the Peabody Essex Museum for a field trip to a special exhibition of renowned artist Alexander Calder. Calder, best known for his mobiles, created abstract works which revolutionized modern sculpture and made him one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century. The exhibition, "From Avant-Garde to Iconic," brings together 40 of Calder's kinetic metal works and dynamic monumental sculptures.
The classes traveled to the Peabody Essex Museum for a field trip to a special exhibition of renowned artist Alexander Calder. Calder, best known for his mobiles, created abstract works which revolutionized modern sculpture and made him one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century. The exhibition, "From Avant-Garde to Iconic," brings together 40 of Calder's kinetic metal works and dynamic monumental sculptures.
"This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity for students to see where art, science and math intersect," said art teacher Christina Marge. "Calder's work deals with physics, mass, balance, form and beauty, which students will study in depth throughout the visit." Students also created their own simplified mobile in the Peabody Essex Museum art studio.
Student reporter Margaret Sparicio '16 wrote for The Looking Glass:
This exhibit features abstract mobiles and sculptures, each personally designed by Calder himself. Calder’s modernized sculptures feature a wide variety of shapes, lines, and colors to create an avant garde perspective. Calder uses a combination of soft and organic shapes strung together with sharp lines and angles to create geometric masterpieces.
Mrs. Marge’s art class will be doing a sculpture project later in the year based on the work of Alexander Calder. This trip allowed the art students to start brainstorming ideas on what their projects. The calculus class went on the trip to better understand of the mechanics of the physical aspects of Calder’s works.
Rylee Booth '16 said, “My favorite part of the trip was when we got to build our own model sculptures using elements similar to Andrew Calder’s materials. We worked in teams to come up with abstract mobile sculptures that look similar to Alexander Calder’s.”
The cross-curricular dimensions to the class enriched both the calculus and art students. All art students know that art begins with creating lines and shapes, and calculus students understand how to measure and predict their movement.
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Inspired by the teachings of the Catholic Church
Inspired by the teachings of the Catholic Church
