‘along came a spider’

2024, Stoneware

An ode to Louise Bourgeois and her works that reflect the protection of her mother, and in turn, an ode to my own mother.

I think about Louise Bourgeois almost every day. Her works, ideas, and concepts continually inspire me. Instead of focusing on her abuser to address her traumatic childhood, she emphasizes the strength of the maternal figure present in her life-a protective spider that shields from fear and abuse.

Similarly, my mother is like that spider for my sister and me. She endured a lot, and that is something to be honored.

Photos- Ariana Rodriguez Diaz