Circus Character

Alexander calder made this work after visiting the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden in 1925. He recycled everyday objects such as bottle caps, corks, and buttons to create his own "big top" stars. When he traveled, calder carried his circus in suitcases and performed it for friends in Europe and the U.S. calder acted out a story with his figures, while his audience sat on bleachers and ate peanuts as if they were at a real circus!

Head to your kitchen with a grown-up. Find five small objects. Use items such as rubber bands, twist ties, or tape to combine these objects and create your own circus character. Perform a circus show for your family.

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