The details
The barred owl, hand-forged with steel by local artist Robin Luck, is located outside of Film Alley at the intersection of Hwy. 95 and Chestnut Street.
“The city of Bastrop, in partnership with the Lost Pines Art Center, continues to expand the Bird Junction Sculpture Program as a way to celebrate public art, honor community heritage and enhance the cultural vibrancy of Downtown Bastrop,” said Michaela Joyce, the Main Street manager.
Luck called the project a “very exciting adventure.”
“I want to thank everybody for supporting this project,” she said during the unveiling, where local officials, business owners and residents were in attendance.
For Chloe Brevelle, a member of the Lost Pines Arts Center staff, that appreciation was mutual.
“Robin is a lover of birds and wildlife and is honored to depict this lovely barred owl for us,” she said. “This is such a monumental piece and is an anchor of our series going down the street.”
What residents are saying
Several Bastrop residents expressed their pleasure that the city is beautifying the community through artwork.
“We should have many more sculptures and paintings throughout the city to give our place a soul and identity,” said Javier Delgado, a Bastrop resident, in a social media post.
Megan Hahn, meanwhile, already has an idea for what the next installation should look like.
“Let’s make the next one a red cardinal,” the Bastrop resident said in a social media post. “I’ve never seen as many as I do in Bastrop.”
Also of note
The Bird Junction Sculpture Program is financed through hotel occupancy tax funds, citizen donations and grants, as previously reported by Community Impact.
During a Bastrop City Council meeting on Sept. 9, a $7,725 donation was accepted through the Lost Pines Arts Center on behalf of Jeffrey Stayton and Maria Montoya Stayton—financing that will help fund the next concrete base for a Bird Junction Sculpture.
“Their contribution ensures that the program can continue to grow without additional cost to the city,” Joyce said in a staff report document.
