We all know how it can be…
You are on vacation and decide that you want to take in some of the local culture. Then next thing you know, you are silently walking through a cold museum for two hours wishing you had opted for a coffee at the local café. For travelers and tourists who find a traditional gallery to be a bit boring and oppressive, here are a couple of unique, outdoor sculptures to view while traveling through Ontario, Canada.
Creepy Giant Spider: The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
French-born American artist, Louise Bourgeois, was not a well-known artist until well into her seventies. Probably best known for her large-scale sculpture and instillation art, she explored a variety of themes over the course of her career. Not for the faint of heart the 30-feet-tall, giant, creepy spider had art centers clamoring to include in shows. The one that stands in Ottawa, Ontario, is titled Maman (“Mommy”) black and withered, carrying a sack of white marble eggs. As she shifted through various themes in her artwork over the years, one thing she held onto was the idea of creating art to “bother people,” a goal she undoubtedly reached with this sculpture.
21-Feet-Tall Transformer Robot: Port Hope, Ontario
Officially the owners of a Canadian antiques craft store cannot call this robot Optimus Prime, but he sure looks like him. The 21-feet-tall sculpture was created over seven months in Southeast Asia and is made of old truck, scooter, and lawnmower parts. It arrived in Port Hope in late 2012 and the locals fell in love with it. Owners Ron Dacey and Rhonda Cook commissioned the piece as a way to mark the 10th anniversary of their store, which sells smaller robots that are designed in Southeast Asia as well. The piece can be seen outside their store, Primitive Designs, located at 2762 County Road 28, in Port Hope.
VW Beetle Spider, Port Hope, Ontario
So, you like the spider idea and you enjoy Port Hope? Then this next instillation is perfect because it combines both of the latter two. Driving along Highway 401, just east of Port Hope is a giant spider perched on a metal post. The sculpture, which is made out of the body of an old VW Beetle, sits on private property. Easily viewable photographable from the road you do not even need to make a stop to get a snapshot of this unique bug.
Those are just a few suggestions to get you started on your outdoor art exploration.
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