The environmental object ‘Crayfish’ is a tribute to the centenary of Auce and serves as a symbol of the town. Shaped like the symbol of a crayfish from the town’s coat of arms, this unique environmental object was unveiled on 11 September 2024. It was created by Latvian artist Agnese Rudzīte-Kirillova.
The crayfish is made from metal wire, bent and welded into a delicate latticework in the shape of a crayfish, reaching 4 metres in height and 4 metres in width.
100 years ago, on 11 September, Vecauce was granted city status and officially named Auce. A year later, its coat of arms was approved, depicting a black river crayfish with golden reflections on a red background. The design of the coat of arms was based on the flag of Duke Jacob’s trading fleet.
The location of the object is of particular significance, as it was the construction of the Jelgava-Mažeikiai railway line that contributed to the development of Vecauce as a settlement and later the Auce town. Due to increased traffic on the railway line, Count Friedrich von Medem started selling fertile land plots from the manor for development.
Designed as a town sign, the object is visible from afar while travelling along the tracks, serving as the first greeting when crossing the tracks towards the city centre. It also serves as a town landmark, highlighting its origins, historical development, and ongoing progress.
