Alexander Calder Wall Hangings on Display in Hutchins Library:
The Nicaraguan and Guatemalan Woven Dyed Sisal Collection
In 1993, Alvin B. Meyer of New York City gave fourteen wall hangings (1974-75) by American artist Alexander Calder (1891-1976) to the Berea College Art Collection.
In 1973, Alexander Calder combined his art, his wife Louisa’s interest in native handicrafts and the cooperation and ability of Central American craftsmen to produce these wall hangings. This international collaborative venture, coordinated and supervised by Kitty Meyer, a Nicaraguan living in New York City, involved more than one hundred native master weavers in villages throughout Nicaragua and Guatemala. Calder created the designs in France and approved the colors of the specially dyed hemp. Craftsmen then produced the limited editions (100 each of 14 designs).
Titles and edition numbers of the 14 designs making up Berea College's collection are:
Balloons (1974) 41 of 100
Circus (1975) 87 of 100
Doll (1974) 4 of 100
Floating Circles (1974) 16 of 100- currently on display in the Hutchins Library Lobby
Lambrigi (1975) 79 of 100
Moon (1974) 66 of 100
Number 9 (1974) 48 of 100
Pyramid (1975) 46 of 100 - currently on display in the Hutchins Library Lobby
Snake (1975) 69 of 100
Star(1975) 91 of 100
Sun (1975) 100 Of 100
Swirl (1975) 53 of 100
Turquoise (1975) 2 of 100
Zebra (1975) 31 of 100 - currently on display in the Hutchins Library Lobby
The Berea College Art Collection is most appreciative of this unique and extraordinary gift from Alvin B. Meyer to Berea College.