84. Alexander Calder, The Crab
Of all the creatures in Galveston—a true wilderness, though we forget to think of it that way—hermit crabs are somehow the most pleasing, to me anyway. True fact about hermit crabs: they will form “conga lines” in order of size from largest to smallest near a large vacant shell. Once a crab that can fit that shell comes along and moves into it, each subsequent crab will switch out its home for the next largest shell. Calder's wonderfully spiky, abstracted crab creeps monumentally outside the museum—an unmissable explorer, reminding us of our nearby wilderness on the coast.
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This post is part of MFAH 100, a series featuring works from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in honor of its 100th birthday. 100 words on 100 works in 100 days.
Have a piece you’d like me to consider? Send a message or leave a comment—I can’t promise I’ll include it but I will give it a serious look.
I think the MFA should use your wonderful narratives in some way with the exhibits! Wonderful.
Thank you! Verrry interesting. I nod and smile at the revelation!