Collections record Beta

Poster - Toby Moffett for Congress

1982-08-1

Political poster - white background. One red and one blue line, both outlined in black, arching towards each other and meeting to swirl around a white circle. At bottom in blue lettering "Toby Moffett for Confess" Signed in lower right hand corner "Calder 73"

Created for Toby Moffett's successful campaign for U.S. Representative in 1974. Moffett, a Democrat and native of Farmington, served in the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1983 as a member from Connecticut's 6th congressional district. Moffett founded the Connecticut Citizen Action Group in 1970 alongside politician and consumer advocate Ralph Nader. His social circle included residents of Litchfield, including Rufus and Leslie Stillman. Moffett worked with four different artists to create posters for his 1974 and 1982 campaigns.

Alexander Calder grew up in a family of artists. His mother studied as a painter in Paris and Philadelphia, where she met his father, a leading academic sculptor. Calder’s path to art was varied and colorful. He studied mechanical engineering, worked in a lumber camp, freelanced as an illustrator, trained as a boxer, and invented a line of children’s toys. In Paris, his work with small wire sculptures led to the creation of “Calder’s Circus,” a set of articulated animals, clowns, and acrobats that “performed” for international audiences. Calder is best known for his metal and wire mobiles and stabiles, some as large as 60 feet in height. In addition to a metal shop, Calder kept a one-room house called “La Gouacherie,” a studio where he produced gouache paintings in five colors.

• Calder, Alexander, 1898-1976

1974

47" high x 31 1/2" wide

• tempera
• paper