Female House Spider Seeks Public Premises For Self-Build
I am writing to you to let you know about the giant stained-glass, female house spider which is to be showcased alongside the work of more than 200 artists, craft workers and makers at the Second Floor Studio & Arts open studios event (3rd/4th/5th June); one of the largest Open Studios events in London.
The arachnid themed artwork, which depicts a 90:1(≈) scaled up version of the common house spider (t.domestica) poised in readiness at the entrance to her funnel web, came about amid efforts by aspiring public artist and Woolwich arachnophobe, Kate Khoury, to rid herself of a life long phobia.
Do all the projects you take on scare you?
Despite myself, a lot of my work does seem to be about confronting phobia, in the broader sense of the word definitely. It's a way of approaching a subject I find uncomfortable and developing a more rational response in the face of it.
Why stained glass?
Glass is engaging and functional. It compels you to look at it. So it's perfect for my purposes.
And did the 'art therapy' work?
Since making the studies for this artwork, I'm definitely much better with spiders. Well, I'm not falling through floorboards to get away from them any more, (which I once actually did do!). T.domestica keep themselves to themselves. They are happy living in our shadows... eating up the bugs in our houses.. a male house spider is literally risking his life by coming out of the darkness to look for a mate... the least we can do is not stamp on him!
And what's next for the spider project?
In a bid to further promote human-spider relations, I would really like to see her [the spider] sat in a full size stained glass web, in a very very very large window!" (see image for artist's impression of the spider web window).
Availability and pricing:
The artwork, which is called, It's probably more afraid of you..., will be available for viewing:
Fri 3rd June to Sun 5th June, from 1pm-7pm.
In UNIT 0, at the Second Floor Studios & Arts Open Studios event,
Harrington Way, Royal Borough of Greenwich, London SE18 5NR
At all other times the artwork can be viewed by way of an appointment with the artist.
Attached images
Kate Khoury, member of Second Floor Studio And Arts,
Studio TW-20,
Harrington Way,
Royal Borough of Greenwich, London
SE18 5NR
07939598384
[email protected]
