.png)
BASTROP — A new barred owl landed in downtown Bastrop last week, this one made of metal and standing taller than the crowd that came to see it unveiled.
The Bastrop Cultural Arts Commission introduced a towering sculpture Sept. 5 at the corner of Texas 95 and Chestnut Street, easy to spot for anyone entering the heart of the city. Created by local artist Robin Luck and funded through private donations to the Lost Pines Art Center, the barred owl is the third installment in Bastrop’s Bird Junction art series, joining a pileated woodpecker and ruby-throated hummingbird already in place.
“We just can’t hold this a secret anymore,” said Maria Montoya Stayton, who spoke on behalf of the commission.
It took several minutes for a small team to fully unveil the proud statue, working with long poles to peel back the heavy black tarp. The layered metal feathers rang out as the fabric slipped free, and cheers rose as the owl’s eyes and beak slowly appeared.
“These bird sculptures are helping us celebrate our Bird City Texas designation, while adding color and creativity to our streetscape,” Mayor Ishmael Harris said. “Each sculpture honors a species that either calls Bastrop home, or makes a stop along its migratory path.”
Luck thanked the city, her fellow artists and all of the community members who donated to help bring the project to life.
“It’s been a learning adventure, a very exciting one, and I want to say thank you … to everyone,” she said.
Bastrop was one of the first four cities to be certified as a Texas Bird City in 2020, alongside Dallas, Houston and Port Aransas. Texas Parks and Wildlife says the designation highlights conservation priorities and helps attract nature tourism.
According to Luke Thompson, president of the Bastrop Audubon Society, Bastrop County plays a big role in bird migration, noting that more than 200 million birds passed overhead in a single night this April.
