Dia:Beacon – Louise Bourgeois Crouching Spider

On Saturday we took a ride up to Dia: Beacon in Beacon, NY. One of the pieces in their collection really did a number on me. I was particular affected by Louise Bourgeois’ Crouching Spider. The bronze giant stalks the seemingly small confines of a naturally lit brick room in the upper south corner of the building. It’s black and bronze, spindly legs precariously and delicately balanced on razor sharp points. It made me feel like I wasn’t sure if it was crouching to pounce or in order to fit into its temporary home. Each one of its slender legs almost touching the surrounding walls.

Being in a room with a 10 foot spider is really unnerving, even when you are fully aware that it isn’t real. You still carry your own personal baggage to the work and apply your feelings to the scenario. For better or worse, I love that someone can make you feel something like that.

Crouching Spider has been on display in Philadelphia as well as San Francisco in outdoor settings.  There are many photos online of the work outdoors, and indeed it is a beautiful work outdoors, but none of the photos Ithat ’ve seen seem to have the feeling of menace that I experienced with the spider inside that room.

Louise Bourgeois Crouching Spider

From Grufnik’s flickr – Crouching Spider – Creative Commons license.

Fuzzygalore

Rachael is the whimsical writer behind the 20+ year old Girlie Motorcycle Blog. As a freelance blogger, she is on a mission to inspire laughter, self-examination, curiosity, and human connection. Girlie Motorcycle Blog can be found on several Best Motorcycle Blog lists.

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6 Responses

  1. rick says:

    Totally freaky!

  2. south says:

    Very cool. Both inspiring and daunting at the same timedid I mention I just recently purchased a new welder? )

  3. south says:

    WHAT!!

  4. OG says:

    LOL… nice to see you are still amongst the living…

    DrD

  5. Pinkyracer says:

    Hey Rachael! Thanks so much for posting this, I came across your blog on MBI and will try to make it to Beacon next weekend while I’m in NY.

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