The blue heron statue that appeared on 13th Avenue has been the topic of conversation for UO students.
Jud Turner, a graduate of the university, worked on the project for over 30 months. He crafted the bird using welded steel, over half of which was from recycled material. The university commissioned the project over a year ago, choosing Turner from multiple candidates. The work was dedicated for Eugene’s 150th birthday, and is intended to be a permanent sculpture. Turner said he decided on a heron because although the birds are no strangers to the northwest, it is still always a treat to see one.
“I wanted to bring one to the university and the downtown community and on a monumental scale. Just to really make you notice it and make people think about not being at the top of the food chain for a second,” Turner said.
The artist’s studio is located in West Eugene, and the statue will be on the corner of 13th Avenue and Alder for years to come.