Wall hanging,

1975

In 1972 a massive earthquake in Guatemala created a humanitarian crisis. As part of a relief effort spearheaded by New York art collector Catalina “Kitty” Meyer, Calder commissioned a series of tapestries from Guatemalan weavers affected by the disaster. Featuring Calder’s signature bright colors and geometric forms, the designs could be executed using a traditional Central American braided weaving technique and local materials such as sturdy maguey fiber. The creation of these tapestries employed hundreds of local weavers and villagers, who were paid four times their typical daily wage.