MAKE Article – How to Make a Mobile Based on Calder’s Mobiles

I wrote an article for the new issue (Vol 40) of MAKE magazine titled Make a Modern Mobile – Swivels and a weight give flexibility and stability to this contemporary design. It explains how to make Mobile 78, a mobile based on Alexander Calder’s mid-century modern mobiles with a contemporary design element to it. It includes a list of all the tools and materials needed and goes through all the steps to make the parts and assemble them.

There’s an online version of the article, a PDF version, or subscribe to the magazine (they have lots of other great projects in each issue!).

Here’s a photo of a mobile made by Carolyn Kingston based on the instructions as part of the Kinetic Mobile Making Group in the Boston, MA area:

 

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Here’s what I am thinking about tonight: how to next level my cityscape ceramics for an installation I’m pondering. I have some fun gallery shows coming up, and I’m super recharged after our @artandyogaretreats inaugural adventure. Step one: CLEAN STUDIOS. . . . . . #mobiles #maker #diymobile #modern #contemporarydesign #installationart #artgallery #studiocleaning #cleanup #messyartist #studioscenes #inspired #artretreat #createexplore #cityscape #skyline #planning #wanderer #artidea #portlandartist

A post shared by Nicole M Curcio Painter-Potter (@nicole_m_curcio) on Feb 8, 2019 at 8:03pm PST

Additional resources for making mobiles:

• Blog post I wrote explaining some of the basics about the balance of a hanging mobile
• Blog post I wrote about What Wire to Use to Make a Hanging Mobile and Where to Buy It
• Blog post with mobile-making related questions that I’ve received via email and my answers
• An article I wrote for Houzz: From the Artist: How to Make a Real Mobile – It’s All in the Balancing Points (there’s a number of questions and answers in the comment section of the article as well). The article is now also available in German
• A history of early mobiles that I’ve put together
• Some technical (“behind-the-scenes”) aspects of designing, making and installing a large custom mobile
• A definition of mobiles
• Q&A about Mobiles for a middle school student’s math class project
• See some of my mobiles if you’re looking for design ideas: handmade mobiles, large custom-made mobiles, 3D printed mobiles and kinetic sculptures

If there’s anything else I can help with, don’t hesitate to contact me.