Alexander Calder

"Fernand Léger's film, 'Ballet Mecanique' is the result of the desire for a picture in motion."

"I say nuclei, for to me whatever sphere, or other form, I use in these constructions does not necessarily mean a body of that size, shape or color, but may mean a more minute system of bodies, an atmo…"

"Marcel Duchamp's 'Nude descending the stairs' is the result of the desire for motion. Here he has also eliminated representative form. This avoids the connotation of ideas which would interfere with t…"

"The aesthetic value of these objects cannot be arrived at by reasoning. Familiarization is necessary."

"How can art be realized? Out of volumes, motion, spaces bounded by the great space, the universe. Out of different masses, tight, heavy, middling - indicated by variations of size or color - direction…"

"Wherever there is a main issue the elimination of other things which are not essential will make for a stronger result. In the earlier static abstract sculptures I was most interested in space, vector…"

"I started right away, using wire as my main material as well as working with others like string, leather, fabric and wood. Wood combined with wire was almost always my medium of choice. One friend of …"

"The various objects of the universe may be constant, at times, but their reciprocal relationships always vary."