About a month ago, The Post reported that a massive sculpture by artist Alexander Calder, “Bent Propeller,” was pulled in several large pieces from the wreckage of the World Trade Center.
Now, another classic Calder project may be rising from the dead in the wake of the Sept. 11 disaster.
George Gordon, a close personal friend of the late Philadelphia-born art legend, is hoping to bring “Flying Colors of the United States,” a vividly painted, Calder-designed passenger plane that first graced the skies more than 25 years ago, back to life.
“It’s more relevant today than ever,” says Gordon, a 61-year-old entrepreneur and former college professor, of Calder’s original red, white and blue-streaked design, which generated an estimated $30 million dollars in publicity for the now-defunct Braniff Airlines when it was part of its fleet from 1975 to 1981.
“We’ve got a crisis with the airlines and air travel – this was a tremendous promotional thing when it first flew. America needs a symbol that says ‘Come on, America, let’s fly.’ “
Gordon was working for an ad agency in ’72 when he came up with the idea for Calder to bring his quirky brand of kinetic art (Calder specialized in mobiles and sculptures) to a whole new scale by adorning commercial jets with his colorful and whimsical designs.
“I found out he was living in Sache, France. I tried [calling] information there, and he was listed,” remembers Gordon. “When I called his home, he answered the phone. It was the start of a wonderful friendship.”
Gordon flew to France with an 18-inch model of a jet under his arm to explain his idea to the legendary abstract artist, who seemed intrigued.
“I told him I wanted him to paint a plane, and he said, ‘I don’t paint toys,’ ” says Gordon, a New York native. “I said I meant a full-size jet, and he said, ‘Oh, a big flying mobile – I like that!’ “
Calder painted two “Flying Colors” jets before his death in 1976 at the age of 78 – one dedicated to South America and the red, white and blue model for the U.S. bicentennial.
In 1981, with Braniff reeling financially, new management took over the airline and decided to paint over Calder’s abstract streaming colors. Soon after, primarily because of overexpansion during the early days of deregulation, Braniff folded.
Two years ago, Gordon began to wonder what had become of the rights to Calder’s “Flying Colors” designs. After a bit of research, he discovered the rights were unclaimed and bid for and eventually bought them from bankruptcy court for a figure he says was “in the thousands.”
Now, armed with the rights to “Flying Colors,” Gordon is trying to convince a major airline (he’s specifically targeted American and United, among others) to bring back Calder’s biggest piece of kinetic art.
He’s also had talks with power broker Bill Fugazy about collecting money for the project through private investments.
Gordon believes that the resurrection of “Flying Colors” would be not only a fitting act of defiance considering the recent attacks but also a good way to celebrate an artist who was quintessentially American.
“He is authentically the leading artist that America ever produced,” says Gordon. “He’s truly the artist of America – and ‘Flying Colors’ represents the audacity of what we stand for as a country.
“Seeing this abstract flag zooming across the skies at high speeds, I think, will help everyone keep their patriotic spirit going, while reminding them to get back on the planes and start flying.”
