Whirlydoodles at night.
The Whirlydoodle installation on light poles along Washington Street in Ann Arbor, between Liberty and Fifth surprised and delighted passers-by for several weeks this past winter. Signs attached to the Whirlydoodles had a QR code that linked pedestrian’s smart phones to a Google survey soliciting responses and comments on the installation.
Survey responses were overwhelmingly positive, with over 95% agreeing that a large scale Whirlydoodle art installation would “Look cool, and make a powerful statement about alternative energy.” Interestingly, this was an even greater positive response than to the compact fluourescent (CFL) downtown street lighting initiative (86% positive).
Tim Jones, Whirlydoodle’s inventor, originally placed them on Washington Street without authorization, as a sort of guerrilla art project. At first, city officials wanted him to remove the windmills. But after seeing the positive survey response, the Downtown Development Authority decided to allow the colorful miniature wind turbines stay in place for while.
Downtown retailers loved the things… when Tim would appear with ladder and toolkit to replace the occasional malfunctioning or vandalized Whirlydoodle, a nearby store owner more than once ran outside, worried that the Whirlydoodle would be removed from in front of their store, and asking that it remain.
Source: youtube.com
WhirlyDoodle, a marker of movement?
In Bushwick, a neighborhood of Brooklyn, a progressive artist’s building dons the special art piece. A warm night and the crew escapes our RV for a some well needed rest and open air.
Bushwick, which is a very up and coming area in Brooklyn shows so much progression in the creative sector of our youth. As an epicenter for the growth of our young culture, seems to be a perfect spot for a WhirlyDoodle to be placed. Especially an artistic center, for what were ugly bare walls, now don beautiful art that comes from all over. As repurposed blank wall spaces are transformed into outdoor non prestigious galleries for all to see, from the car, bike, public or on foot. As well as art that has function; why this neighborhood is perfect.
Showing and expressing the love of progression that is appearing again and again in our growing world is so important to keep us on our toes. Here at the WhirlyDoodle headquarters, (laptop) we want to spread the word and remind ourselves and others what we are here for, to reconcile the troubles that we have caused with dissonance to our environment.
Spreading love, knowledge and awareness.
A evening breeze generates color pulses
Here’s a Whirlydoodle in action… watch how the pattern changes as the wind picks up. You’ll see the Whirlydoodle pivot with the wind direction as well. We’re used to seeing wind behavior indicated by a windsock or other purely physical device, but it’s fun and enlightening to add a component of electricity and light to real-time patterning of the wind.
Whirlydoodle at night with a breeze
