Play. Mobiles embody the most kinetic or “alive” of the mixed media forms. It is no coincidence that they were invented by the American sculptor Alexander Calder, who early in his career spent time designing props for the Ringling Brothers Circus. Deeply impressed by the work of Dutch painter Piet Mondrian, Calder created his first mechanical art works in 1931. Dubbed “mobiles” by the French surrealist Marcel Duchamp, a revolution was born.

Really, mobiles are closest to the family of sculpted arts, but for the ease with which mixed media such as found objects, paint and string can be employed, as well as the technique’s adaptability to the development context it is considered here as mixed media.

Mobiles can be made simply. The rules are simple, and can be applied to increasing orders of complexity. With today’s engineering software and machine tools, mobiles can easily become complex, incredibly dynamic works that transform a volume into a play of color, light and motion (the mobile to the right, for example, made by Vermont artist Gordon Auchincloss, is a series of paper cones tumbling down a stairwell - lovely!). Here, we’ll keep things simple and accessible, and invite you to play along. You can order a simple starter kit (coming soon!) or find your own objects to get started.

In the development context, mobiles, when deployed in setting like the waiting areas of community health clinics, are an inexpensive, attractive and playful way to communicate important health messages. The process of making mobiles is an excellent way to build tactile skills as well as sensitivity to principles like balance, proportion and scale. Finally, we hope that the relative availability of mobile-making materials will lend themselves to income-generating activities, for example among children who sell to tourists.