Spider sculpture's days of creeping out commuters are numbered, says City of Vancouver
A giant spider sculpture that has been creeping out some Vancouver commuters will soon be removed, according to the City of Vancouver.
It's been just over a week since the arachnid appeared underneath a bridge on the city's east side where it's visible to passengers on the Millenium Line Skytrain. Since then, a city spokesperson says there have been complaints and requests for its removal.
The piece is an "unsanctioned artwork" that will be taken down as soon as a plan is finalized to remove it safely and with minimal disruption," according to officials.
"The installation of this artwork was not done in consultation with the City of Vancouver or the rail corridor partners," the city's statement said.
"The removal of the unsanctioned artwork will follow the city’s impoundment process and the owner will have the ability to claim the piece via that process."
The owner, in this case, appears to be a Montreal-based artist who goes by the name of Junko who posted photos of the spider on Instagram with the caption, “Phobia 2023. Time to face our fears.” At the centre of the spider’s metallic body, a red light can be seen blinking.
An additional post shows how the sculpture was installed.
An exact timeline for the removal of the spider has not been established.
Junko is known for creating art out of reclaimed materials, and currently has two sanctioned sculptures of massive ants on display outside the Bentall Centre Gallery.
That installation, named Habitat, is part of the Vancouver Mural Festival’s Winter Arts event and will be on display until March 31.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince Harry gets his day in court against tabloids he accuses of blighting his life
Prince Harry entered a courtroom witness box Tuesday, swearing to tell the truth in testimony against a tabloid publisher he accuses of phone hacking and other unlawful snooping.

Prison service to review decision to transfer killer Bernardo to medium security
The federal prison service says it will have a second look at its decision to move convicted killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security facility as political leaders of all stripes react to the news with shock and outrage.
Canada's housing market sees largest improvement in affordability in four years: National Bank
Canada’s housing market saw the largest improvement in affordability in nearly four years in the first quarter of 2023, according to a report from economists at the National Bank of Canada.
Poilievre threatens to filibuster budget bill if Liberals don't meet demands
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is threatening to use procedural tools to delay passage of the federal budget in the House of Commons if the Liberals don't meet his demands.
Here's what Quebec's wildfires look like from outer space
A photo taken from NASA show what the wildfires burning in Quebec look like from up above.
About ducking time: Apple to tweak iPhone autocorrect function
One of the most notable happenings at Apple's event for developers on Monday is likely the iPhone maker's tweak that will keep its autocorrect feature from annoyingly correcting one of the most common expletives to 'ducking.'
Apple unveils a US$3,500 headset as it wades into the world of virtual reality
Apple on Monday unveiled a long-rumoured headset that will place its users between the virtual and real world, while also testing the technology trendsetter's ability to popularize new-fangled devices after others failed to capture the public's imagination
Facing evacuations due to a forest fire or flood? Here’s what to pack in a grab-and-go bag
While some natural disasters or bouts of extreme weather may require sheltering in place until authorities can restore power to the area, others require residents to evacuate quickly, sometimes in a matter of hours — and if you want to be prepared, you should create a grab-and-go bag.
Poor air quality, evacuations in multiple provinces due to wildfires
Wildfire smoke prompted warnings about poor air quality for many regions across the country, stretching from northern Alberta to the Atlantic.