There’s an apocryphal story among J.R.R. Tolkien fans that the fantasy author’s villainous portrayals of spiders were inspired by a childhood incident when a tarantula bit him. In a better documented case of arachnophobia, film director Peter Jackson based the design for Shelob, the giant spider in “The Lord of the Rings,” on the species of spider he most feared in his native New Zealand.
Notorious on-screen spiders, including Shelob, get a shout-out in “The Art and Science of Arachnids,” a new temporary exhibit at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. However, the exhibit’s approach is just the opposite of Jackson’s — not to terrify moviegoers, but rather to demystify the eight-legged animals by fostering curiosity and empathy.
The museum has partnered with Little Ray’s, one of the largest exotic animal rescue organizations in North America, to bring this exhibit to Chicago. “Our goal here at the Nature Museum is to build connections between people and local nature, and fear is an inhibiting factor to connection,” said program development specialist Jeffrey Wolfthal. “With this arachnids exhibit, we’re really hoping to build appreciation for these really fantastic creatures.”
The stars of the exhibit are live tarantulas representing over a dozen species, as well as other arachnids including the vinegaroon, hairy desert scorpion, Asian giant centipede, peppered cockroach, Madagascar hissing roach and darkling beetle. Each species is housed in a customized habitat with signage to educate visitors about its average size, lifespan, geographic origin and other notable facts.
Some of the live arachnids on display are reclusive and tend to burrow under plants or webs, so keen-eyed visitors might catch only a glimpse of their fuzzy legs peeking out from a cozy corner. The rose hair tarantula often hides in plain sight by camouflaging herself on top of a log in her habitat.
When I visited, several spiders including the burgundy goliath birdeater and the salmon pink birdeater — two of the largest species of tarantula — were out and about in their habitats. Although these particular animals are about the size of a large human hand, birdeaters can grow up to the size of a dinner plate, said Cat Chorney, the exhibit’s team lead from Little Rays.
However, it’s important to note that none of the arachnids in the exhibit are deadly to healthy, adult humans. “There are no species of tarantula on the whole planet that have a bite that is lethal to a human, not a single one,” Chorney elaborated. “Some of them hurt, but unless you are allergic to bee stings, it’ll just hurt.”
“There’s no aggression unless you are a bite-sized prey item,” Chorney said of spiders’ behavior. “It’s all defensive. A lot of spider bites occur because people accidentally lean on them, so they’re startled and then reacting to that, or you’re trying to force them out of an area they feel they need to defend.”
After visiting the live arachnids, I discovered my favorite part of the exhibit — a gallery of macrophotography by Julian Kamzol a German photographer who specializes in arachnids and insects. Kamzol’s striking closeups reveal a range of vibrant colors and rich textures found in arachnid anatomy.
The exhibit also highlights the historical significance of arachnids across different cultures, such as the Greek myth of Arachne, Anansi the Spider from Ghanaian folklore and the Spider Woman legend from the Ojibwe, Hopi and Navajo nations. One display relates the history of the tarantella, a traditional Italian dance that began as a form of musical exorcism to cure wolf spider bites; visitors can practice the steps on a small dance floor with the help of an instructional video. Other family-friendly activities include an “assemble an arachnid” puzzle, a chance to weave your own spider web, a toddler-scale climbing web and a photo opportunity with an oversized jumping spider.
While “The Art and Science of Arachnids” features species from around the world, the Nature Museum’s permanent exhibits focus on local nature in Chicago and Illinois. Part of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, one of the country’s oldest scientific institutions, the museum dates back to 1869, with its current Notebaert Nature Museum opening in Lincoln Park in 1999. Today, its exhibits feature live animals, taxidermy specimens, recreations of the region’s former prairies and woodlands, and educational materials about sustaining the natural environment.
A year-round highlight is the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, a walk-through exhibit in a sunlit, tree-filled enclosure that houses about 1,000 butterflies. Every day, visitors can watch butterflies and moths that have just emerged from their chrysalises take their first flight into the haven. In other areas of the museum, staff members provide daily opportunities to interact with animals and observe feeding sessions, while the outdoor Micole Birdwalk offers tree-top views of local wildlife from April through November.
The museum has plenty of activities for kids, including a dedicated play space for toddlers and another for children up to age 7. The RiverWorks exhibit is also kid-friendly, with interactive water tables that explore the ecosystems of rural and urban waterways. So, whether you’re out to conquer your fear of spiders, enjoy a moment of zen with the butterflies or let the kids get their wiggles out, you can do it all at the Nature Museum.
Emily McClanathan is a freelance writer.
“The Art and Science of Arachnids” through May 4 at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, 2430 N. Cannon Drive; open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., exhibit included with museum admission, $8-$15; naturemuseum.org