Flying colours

Vintage Silver Gelatin print, 1975, verso is the stamp NORMA (31 rue de la Ferronnerie, Paris). The hand written inscription follows: 30 Mai 1975 : Salon de Boulget. Calder met le dernier coup de princeau a son avion “FLYING COLOURS”
Note: In 1975 the artist was involved in a major project called “Flying Colours”. This was designed to be part of the bi-centeneary celbrations of The United States. The project was worked with Branfiif Airlines who allowed one of their Boing 727 airccraft to be one of Calders “flying canvases”. The plane, N408BN was given the nickname “Sneaky Snake” by Braniff pilots. There were two reasons for this nickname: Calder had painted a snake on number 1 engine nacelle cover (the subject of our historic photograph) Secondly the aircraft had a ‘trim” problem inasmuch as pilots had to adjust altitude and heading by hand. Most pilots did not enjoy flying “Calder 727”. This is a very famous moment in a very famous artists life.