Rhode Island’s Big Blue Bug Makes Top 10 Ugliest Public Art

Rhode Island's Big Blue Bug is celebrating his 45th birthday this year, but his new national ranking might not be the present locals would hope he'd receive.

Since 1980, "Nibbles Woodaway" has been a roadside attraction that drivers on I-95 just can't miss. The nine foot tall subterranean termite is an iconic piece of public art to those in the Ocean State, but is it an ugly piece of art?

A new survey from Rivers Wall Art asked Americans about the ugliest public art in the country and "Nibbles" landed in the list's top 10.

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Having grown up in Rhode Island with the Big Blue Bug always part of the landscape, I've never really considered it ugly or a piece of art, for that matter. Yet when Rivers Wall Art decided to ask people about the ugliest piece of public art, "Nibbles" rose to the top.

Rivers Wall Art Survey and Methodology

Public art depicted bugs didn't do well overall. In fact, Alabama's Boll Weevil Monument was given the top spot on the entire list and Utah's Giant Spider made of recycled license plates was #5.

So where did the Big Blue Bug rank?

READ MORE: Remembering the Creator of the Big Blue Bug

Sadly, Nibbles Woodaway placed #10 among 90 public art displays. Unfortunately, reasons why people voted the way they did weren't included in the results — nor were voters' locations.

How ‘Ugly’ Is Ugly? Public Perception

I can only assume that not too many Rhode Islanders were asked their opinion on this one, because I don't think many would call the Big Blue Bug ugly, even if some do.

READ MORE: Rhode Island's Iconic Bug Wasn't Always Blue

Other local public art displays on Rivers Wall Art's list include Burnside Fountain (AKA "Turtle Boy") in Worcester, MA and the dilapidated abandoned ice cream stand shaped like giant milk can in North Smithfield, RI.