Theo Witos admires “Mechateuthis” at the Carson City library. The giant squid art installation will be in the lobby until Friday. Visitors can use the cranks along the railing to move the squid’s tentacles, beak, and fins.
Photo by Faith Evans.
With glowing eyes, a sharp beak, and movable tentacles, the giant mechanical squid “Mechateuthis,” has stormed the Carson City library. The art installation will be swimming the stacks until Friday.
Barry Crawford, an artist from Elko, constructed Mechateuthis in 2015 with a grant from Burning Man Arts. The squid has prowled Nevada since then, touring festivals, fairs, concerts, and more.
It was Tod Colegrove, library director, who coordinated a visit from Mechateuthis.
“When we were talking about this year’s ‘Oceans of Possibilities’ theme for summer learning, I had mentioned to the team that, wow, what if we could reach out to bring out a giant squid to plant it in the heart of the library. Would that be too terrifying?” he said.
Joy Holt, the library’s business director, said Mechateuthis has been a big hit among visitors.
Eight cranks surrounding the squid control its tentacles, beak, and fins. Holt has seen children organizing friends and strangers to get all-hands-on deck to drive the squid’s appendages.
“That’s what we do in libraries, try to spark kids’ imaginations,” Colegrove said.
And kids’ muscles – it takes a fast clockwise spin on the cranks to get the squid moving.
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