#wildwildwest

Bodie, CA~ Circa 1877- California gold-mining ghost town. Walking through these deserted streets made us feel as if we were in a Clint Eastwood movie. This Wild West gold-mining town was as real as it gets. It was known for its rugged cowboys, endless shoot outs, brutal murders and 60+ saloons. Bodie hung on by a string until the 1930’s when the town became completely abandoned.

“Goodbye God, I’m going to Bodie.”- The town took on this motto after a little girl wrote this phrase in her diary as her and her family were headed to Bodie.

Goodbye Bodie… We’re now headed to Lake Tahoe.

Light Spider

This has been a long time in the making.  The parts have literally been sitting on my work desk all year.  First problem was creating the abdomen from two perforated domes - something that could be opened and closed.  So I found a tiny little hinge and fashioned a swing hook latch.  Next major problem was the legs. Another artist who I admire greatly solders watch winding stems for insect legs.  I wanted to use the same materials but I don’t copy.  So I used sleeves, cord end tubes with loops, tiny rubber rings and brass rods. They are screwed to a brass ring.  I did want a lot more detail in the cephalothorax but decided to go simple with a stepped brass finding with brass rings attached underneath for the central screw.  It’s more wild wild west than a real representation of a spider.

The glow is from the innards of a LED “fairy globe” sold on one of the big wholesale sites for party decoration.  I took it out of the plastic ball and put it in the spider’s abdomen. The light pulses slowly on and off.  Batteries can easily be replaced.  It doesn’t have a switch so I just break the circuit with a toothpick between the battery and terminal to turn it off.  

It’s 3 inches wide, 2 ½ inches long and 1 ½ inches high.  

Thanks to all my followers - I really appreciate all of you. I hope you have a wonderful New Year and fantastic 2019!