Beetle Mania: The Art of Joan Danziger

Explore the extraordinary world of sculptor Joan Danziger of Washington, DC, whose creations—creepy, crawly specimens with six legs and wings—take center stage.

Enter the world of Coleoptera, the largest and most diverse order of insects commonly known as beetles. Danziger’s colorful works, which will cling to the walls throughout the gallery, will be paired with some of RPM’s scientific collection of beetles, as well as some cultural artifacts from ancient Egypt and South America, decorated with the insects. The artist enlists metal wire, iridescent glass, celluclay, and paint to create her much-larger-than-life-sized sculpted beetles. Some of her sculptures measure nearly five feet! The artist notes that her work uses “animal imagery as metaphorical or psychological subjects giving the sculptures a life of their own creating a magical world. Beetles, especially the scarab, have inspired creative myths in many cultures because of their ability to survive, and have been objects of fascination and awe.”

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website