Alexander Calder: Workshop for Kids - NGV - Melbourne - Review

Kids can get hands-on and creative at the latest kids installation at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) - Alexander Calder: Workshop for Kids. Kate’s little ones enjoyed their time at the NGV last week making cute llamas and virtual sculptures.

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Alexander Calder: Workshop for Kids opened 5th April 2019 in conjunction with the artist’s main exhibition Alexander Calder: Radical Inventor. Kids can construct animal sculptures by using custom-designed paper templates and working with intersecting shapes and folding techniques. Kids can also take part in a multimedia game where they can design virtual public artworks across Melbourne.

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Alexander Calder was captivated with movement and animals even as a child; at age 11 he gifted his parents with sculptures he had made of a dog and a duck. Taking direction from this fascination, Alexander Calder: Workshop for Kids presents children with the opportunity to construct their own unique creatures.

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Just as Calder designed outdoor sculptures on a grand scale, children will also be able to create public artworks in a specially designed multimedia game. Equipped with a virtual toolbox of shapes and colours, children will enrich Melbourne by designing public sculptures at popular Melbourne sites St Kilda Beach, Royal Botanical Gardens or NGV International.

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

While Alexander Calder is well known for his suspended mobiles that move, he also made sculptures without moving parts which sat firmly on the ground. His friend Jean Arp created a new game called the sculptures ‘stabiles’ which stood as high as fifteen metres. You can create your own ‘stabile’ and hear some music during your visit which was popular when Calder was busy making art.

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Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Alexander Calder: Workshop for Kids is on from Friday 5th of April to Sunday 4th Aug 2019. Open 10am–5pm daily. Entry to the Kids installation is FREE however the main Alexander Calder exhibition is ticketed.

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

Photo credit: @kateflatman for @busycitykids

For more information on Alexander Calder, head here. For more information on Alexander Calder for Kids, head here

For more ideas of what to do with the kids in Melbourne, checkout our Website, our Daily Spots ListCBD Spots or Blog.