Calder Mobile Draws Crowd to Exhibition

About 70 art lovers braved the wet weather for the opening of “Between Planes: Exploring Sculpture Through Print” on Nov. 13 at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. The unique show examines prints made by sculptors, offering a glimpse into artistic thought process of an artist prior to creating a sculpture.

A highlight of the exhibition is a kinetic sculpture by renowned artist Alexander Calder, loaned from Montecito collectors. The abstract work, “The Smile and the Eye” (1974), was created by the American sculptor whose innovative moving sculptures inspired a critic to coin the term “mobile” in 1931. “It’s a coup that we are able to exhibit this work,” Rupp says. “In the donors’ own words, ‘of course we will lend it, we love Westmont!’”

Beloved local artists Dug Uyesaka and Dane Goodman, who both have pieces in the exhibition, attending the opening reception.

Uyesaka used a variety of tools to mark up the surface of Plexiglass to create the drypoint “Untitled,” which draws inspiration from a pond in Sag Harbor, New York. It is juxtaposed with his assemblage, “Guided By Voices II,” which he says celebrates the chain of one’s creations.

Goodman also used plexiglass for his “Untitled” monotype, which was created in New Mexico with printer Larry Fodor of the Black Mesa Workshop. Below the large monotype sheet is his large untitled sculpture that uses a fir log, copper sheet and oil-based resin.

The free exhibition, which highlights the works of three dozen artists, is open through Dec. 20.