Denver, N.C., Widow Project Draws Fans

December’s “Rear View” featured Innovative Pest Management’s “Widow Project,” the highly anticipated sculpture commissioned by owners Ronnie and Rhonda Caldwell and unveiled on the front lawn of their Denver, N.C., facility in late October. More than 200 area business leaders, friends and neighbors were in attendance.

Since the unveiling, the community has embraced the sculpture as a positive, one-of-a-kind addition, Ronnie Caldwell says. “There aren’t many days that go by without someone pulling up to take a picture,” he observed.

Caldwell hired local artist Dave Simpson to construct the 11,000-pound, to-scale stainless steel sculpture of a widow spider. Here are some additional photos of the sculpture taken at the October unveiling:

A closeup of The Widow Project sculpture perched on its granite base.

Artist Dave Simpson completed the sculpture in 11 weeks.

A posterior view of the 11,000-lb. sculpture. The spider itself weighs about 900 lbs.

The Widow Project is constructed of more than 30 sections of 16-gauge stainless steel, and features lifelike details such as hair and eyes.

Artist Dave Simpson with owners Rhonda and Ronnie Caldwell

Innovative Pest Management’s business development manager, Wendy Suddreth.