Whirligig at Wesley Long

Happy Friday. Today, we share a whirligig sculpture by Vollis Simpson and installed at the Wesley Long Hospital complex. The saw dog in on loan. Here is a two minute video documenting the day it arrived in town. The whirligig is made from recycled/upcycled metal- everything from bicycle pieces to B-52 metal parts. Simpson hails from Wilson, NC. The retired machine shop operator turned visual artist is bringing visual pleasure and fun, whilygig sounds to Greensboro. You can see another piece of Mr. Simpson's art at the Hemphill Branch of the Greensboro City Library system.*

In May, North Carolina voted to make the whirligig our state's official folk art. In June, the 94-year-old Vollis Simpson left this earth. We hope his masterpieces are around to bring pleasure to us for a very long time. You leave us to ponder, Mr. Simpson, if a unit of speed is the ratio of a unit of distance to a unit of time, just how fast is our whirligig going if it never leaves the above pole? On a windy day, we're betting a little bit of Mr. Simpson's soul is spinning around his aerodynamic works of art. 

*Simpson reference, here.

Comments

[Jane T. Mitchell]

So near to my home, yet I knew nothing about it. Can't wait to check it out later today. Thanks for featuring this fun piece of art.

[Janis of So Cal]

I love Whirligigs! I stop myself from getting them because I may become that crazy lady on the street with all the whirligigs!