On the eastside of Tucson, Natasha Nathan’s backyard is home to more than twenty black widow spiders, and a whole lot of creativity.
Her brand is called PunkyBoy, a small jewelry business where her designs are inspired by the spiders she raises and other critters. The process is intentionally sustainable. “They’ll generate new egg sacks and I collect them and then I let them hatch and put them back on the property,” she says.
Her work blends curiosity, artistry, and deep respect for the environment. “I’m not like a spider aficionado, you know. I’m passionate about just learning and doing and creating. It’s like artist is in my DNA.”
She doesn’t take her role lightly, especially when it comes to how people perceive black widows. While her work is inspired by them, she’s careful not to glamorize risky behavior. “The more we make it look okay to play with them, the more people get hurt.”…