David Mudgett 2009

Sculptor David Mudgett has established himself as a favorite of many within the Cloverdale community. This year he returns with a 6 feet high, 500 lb steel and stone spider, entitled “Face Your Fear”.  Mudgett believes that spiders have traditionally been given a bad rap. Often needlessly destroyed out of fear, they could benefit from a spokesperson in their defense.

“An intricate strand in the web of life, spiders serve us in many ways,” Mudgett elaborates. “As a natural combatant against garden pests, spiders also reduce the number of disease-carrying insects in our communities. Recent research in the realm of spider venom has shown promise in the treatment of everything from neurological disorders to bioengineering of pesticides.”  It is the sincere hope of David Mudgett that “Face Your Fear” will act as an ambassador, provoking the viewer to face his or her fears by looking past the stigma and realizing the true magnificence of these creatures.

Mudgett has been building things all his life. “Always encouraged to repair rather than replace, I became mechanically inclined at a very young age”, he explained. “I was born with an allergy to text, and filled my youth with the great outdoors. I have always gravitated towards shape, sound and movement.”

Inspired by his grandfather, Mudgett was drawn to steel and spent years as a pipe fitter learning the craft. He was fascinated by the ease at which large pieces of metal could be formed into limitless objects, and the metal soon became an affliction. These years of metal fabrication gave him a firm grasp of steel, yet he found the conventional uses littered with boundaries. The fusion of art and steel was calling to him.

Photo by Tedd Peterson