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article local calendar_today Friday, May 29, 2026

Breckenridge sculpture students recreate Calder-inspired circus exhibition

Breckenridge High School sculpture students, led by art teacher Randy Olson, ended the school year by recreating a circus-themed exhibition inspired by Alexander Calder's 1926 work "Calder's Circus." Students created beasts, characters, and imaginative pieces using metal fabrication techniques like cutting and welding, with materials donated by Red River Valley & Western Railroad (spikes) and Valley Fab and Repair (scrap metal).

This project matters because it connects students to art history—marking the centennial of Calder's first major exhibition—while providing hands-on experience in metalworking and creative problem-solving. By repurposing industrial materials, students learned how context can transform ordinary objects into meaningful art, blending technical skill with artistic expression in a small community setting.