A brand-new owl sculpture is coming in to roost in Knowsley as part of the celebrations taking place across the Liverpool City Region for the Eurovision Song Contest, which being held in Liverpool on Saturday 13 May.
‘Euro Owl’ has been designed and painted by local artist Gill Cowley in collaboration with Kirkby’s Ukrainian community. The 2-metre sculpture is adorned with the flags of all of the nations competing in the international song competition as well as encompassing the yellow and blue of the Ukrainian national flag.
Additionally, the big bird sculpture carries a distinctly avian theme, featuring a nightingale which is a songbird and is also the national bird of Ukraine. It also features a cockerel, which has become a symbol of resistance in Ukraine and also Liverpool’s own iconic Liver Birds.
Artist Gill Cowley delivers art courses and classes for the local community at Kirkby Gallery which includes two annual art groups and is also the lead artist for ‘Little BIG Art Club’, a Saturday Art Club for young artists aged 6 – 14 years.
Gill said: “This has been such a lovely project to work on, the Owl and Pussycat Sculpture trail was such a beloved event in last year’s Borough of Culture celebrations to be able to bring another new sculpture into the world for Eurovision has been a joy. I wanted this sculpture to be a celebration of both Liverpool and Ukraine and was inspired by the feedback from our own local Ukrainian community.
Euro Owl will go on display at the Kirkby Centre from Thursday 11 May – Saturday 27 May and visitors to the centre can also take in this year’s Knowsley Open Art Exhibition which is on display in the Gallery space until 22 July
The new owl sculpture will then join the rest of Knowsley’s now iconic Owl and Pussycat sculptures which are due to go back out on display this summer.
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Kirkby Gallery Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 10am – 5pm (last entry: 4.30pm)
Saturday: 10am – 1pm (last entry: 12.30)
