Sunday 19 April 2015

Unitentional Symbolism

Notre-Dame Basilica has been a landmark here in Ottawa, for well over a century, then along came the National Gallery of Canada and a decade later, Mamam, a giant spider.   Strangely, in conversation many people will refer to the spider rather than the much larger cultural buildings....I'll leave that analysis to the cultural anthropologists.

All to say, that from the lower Boreal Garden, the spider and the Basilica are juxtaposed quite dramatically, which is what attracted me....well, that and the fact that it was a warm sunny spot on a breezy spring day.

As I came home, I was thinking about art and how I need some real things to represent and how I'm reluctant to adjust even something like a power pole to improve composition.  And I realised, I just created a work of great symbolism and social comment!

Hopefully some critic will tell me just what that is and write at length about my clever statement about the church and egg bearing arachnids.  Whatever it is, I truly hope it isn't sarcastic or somehow disrespectful...at least of the church.....now spiders?

3 comments:

  1. John - I failed to scroll down - and missed this one. I had never heard of Mamam before - and seeing it next to the Basilica - stirs not just a few thoughts! I am not qualified to even attempt to comment on this, yet - I will try. My thoughts go to John's letters to the Churches in the book of Revelation. Oh how the devil wants to destroy the church! And Christ Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." For those who have ears to hear - He is calling for us to repent, to be watchful, to hold fast - and to not fear. He whose feet are like fine brass - He whose countenance is like the sun shining in its strength - He is the One that gives us victory over the devil. And though we see the evil around us - awesomely scary - yet, Christ is greater - He is alive forevermore - He has the keys of Hades and of Death - and no one can snatch us out of His hand.

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  2. Hi Reta - I'm guessing you don't like spiders and consider them evil. Some might look at the juxtaposition in the sketch and think of how all creatures on this earth are beautiful, and that it is not our place to make judgement of their worth.

    Incidentally, Mamam (mother) has eggs under her belly, so one of these days there may be some small spiders on the site as well. If you ever visit - tuck your pants into your socks!

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  3. I sure did rush to judgment here . . . sorry about that! Mamam looks so ominous to me. She is gigantic and not cute and hairy like the tarantula! I've been battling with some of her relatives lately - scorpions, and do not look fondly on that sort!

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