\n The two-metre-wide art installation, titled Asteroidea, will be displayed against the east window of Salthouse Church, marking its return after a 23-year absence.\n<\/p>\n
\n The piece was created in 2003 by artists Margie Britz and Liz McGowan as part of a group exhibition and was designed to evoke the same wonder people feel when gazing at the night sky.\n<\/p>\n
\n Asteroidea at night (Image: Supplied)\n<\/p>\n
\n Ms Britz said: “We took starfish from the bottom of the sea and threw them up into the air as a galaxy.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Gazing at the stars inspires a sense of awe, and the artists want viewers to experience that awe in relation to these extraordinary sea creatures, along with their unique chalk reef habitat.”\n<\/p>\n
\n The title, Asteroidea, is the scientific term for starfish, derived from the Greek words ‘aster’ (star) and ‘eidos’ (like).\n<\/p>\n
\n Starfish are ancient creatures that predate dinosaurs and have survived five mass extinctions.\n<\/p>\n
\n Asteroidea, a 2 meter diameter galaxy of starfish (Image: Supplied)\n<\/p>\n
\n The installation was created using starfish collected from beaches between Holkham and Weybourne, often stranded by a mix of strong winds and high tides.\n<\/p>\n
\n A programme of events will accompany the exhibition.\n<\/p>\n
\n It begins with a solstice opening event on Sunday, June 21, from 8.30pm to 10.30pm.\n<\/p>\n
\n Asteroidea will be hung against the east window of\u00a0Salthouse Church (Image: Supplied)\n<\/p>\n
\n At dusk, storyteller Hugh Lupton will share the story of Orion, accompanied by improvised sound, projection, and voice from the group Aether.\n<\/p>\n
\n On Sunday, June 28, divers Rob Spray and Dawn Watson will give an illustrated talk on the Norfolk chalk reef, exploring the lives of starfish and offering a seaweed pressing activity.\n<\/p>\n
\n For the June 28 talk, entry is \u00a35 for adults, with children admitted free.\n<\/p>\n