This thoughtful review of the Alexander Calder jewelry show in its only west coast exhibition at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park through January 2010 was just published by San Diego gallery director Alex Salazar of Madison Gallery in La Jolla, CA– its an appreciative reminder to see some of the first tier art available yo us in San Diego while its in town.

Alexander Calder must have loved his sister’s dolls. In fact, starting in 1906 he began making jewelry for them. This premise sets the tone for the “Calder Jewelry” exhibition at SDMA in Balboa Park as delightful, humorous, and appealing to anyone that loves accessories. Producing over 1,500 pieces of jewelry (many gifts to his wife, some collected by Peggy Guggenheim, worn by Georgia O’Keeffe, and featured on Angelica Huston the cover of The New York Times Magazine) this exhibit will leave you wondering, “How much are they worth?”

Well, just last week on October 21, 2009 at Sotheby’s Rare Jewels and Objects D’art; a Superb Collection, A Brass Necklace, By Alexander Calder sold for $245,500. Granted, the works on this exhibit are not for sale and that is a wonderful thing. On loan and co-organized by the Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, Florida and the Calder Foundation, New York, this collection of tiaras, earrings, broaches, belt buckles, rings are together for the first major museum show dedicated to only his jewelry.

Read the complete article here: Alex Salazar on Alexander Calder at SDMA