Spiny Top, Curly Bottom

Alexander Calder

1963

Welded metal, painted black

J. Paul Getty Museum

This sculpture is a study in contrasts. The upper half is composed of sharp-edged, angular forms that extend in four directions. This jagged top is opposed by four wave-like curlicues that also function as a base. Although made of machine-cut steel, the large sculpture displays weightless grace. And despite its elaborate design, the work stands elegantly and alone, entirely self-supporting. Alexander Calder committed the latter part of his career to the creation of stabiles--stationary sculptures in contrast to his kinetic mobiles. He produced his first large-scale sheet metal stabile in 1937. Later in his career--as with Spiny Top,