(Kenosha Sister Cities)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A mural unveiled in Cosenza, Italy, and recently highlighted by Kenosha Sister Cities appears to contain a striking image familiar to readers of Kenosha County Eye: a lighthouse bearing an eye symbol that closely resembles the publication’s logo.
The image surfaced June 18 when Kenosha Sister Cities shared a photograph on Facebook showing former Kenosha firefighter Jeff Weidner standing in front of the mural during a visit to Cosenza. The artwork prominently features a lighthouse overlooking a body of water, complete with a large eye symbol near the top of the tower.
While lighthouses are commonly associated with Kenosha’s Lake Michigan shoreline, it was the eye symbol that immediately drew attention. The combination of a lighthouse and eye closely mirrors the logo that has represented Kenosha County Eye for years.
The mural was created as part of the longstanding relationship between Kenosha and Cosenza through the Sister Cities program. Kenosha and Cosenza have maintained official ties for decades, promoting cultural exchanges, educational opportunities, and visits between residents of the two communities. The program was established to strengthen international friendships and foster a better understanding between people from different countries.
The connection between the two cities has included student exchanges, civic visits, and cultural programs over the years. Delegations have regularly traveled between Wisconsin and southern Italy, with local officials and residents participating in events designed to celebrate the shared relationship.
The mural itself appears to be a tribute to Kenosha. In addition to the lighthouse and eye symbol, the artwork includes a sailboat, waterfront imagery, and the word “Kenosha” painted prominently along the bottom. Other artistic elements include celestial symbols, geometric shapes, and decorative designs surrounding the central scenes.
What remains unclear is how the eye-on-a-lighthouse design found its way into the mural. Kenosha County Eye has not been able to determine whether the artists were familiar with the publication’s logo or whether the resemblance is simply a coincidence.
Given the uniqueness of the eye symbol incorporated into the lighthouse, however, the similarity is difficult to overlook.
Kenosha County Eye intends to contact Kenosha Sister Cities and the artists involved in creating the mural to learn more about the inspiration behind the design and whether there is any connection to the publication’s well-known logo.
For now, a piece of public art located more than 4,800 miles from Kenosha has left at least one local publication wondering how a symbol so closely resembling its own ended up painted on a wall in southern Italy.
