Grandmother Spider    16”x 16”        

Oil/ Acrylic by Melinda McCarthy 2006

As someone who has always been afraid of spiders, I have a new respect for them after learning the Native American Indian veiw of them.  In this culture they are keepers of wisdom, weaving the web of life. 
This image is based on the story of Grandmother Spider who by moulding a little clay pot, manged to bring fire from the other side of the world where all the other animals failed, thus bringing light and warmth.