Gift of the Wind facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gift of the Wind |
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| Artist | Susumu Shingu |
| Year | 1985 |
| Type | steel, aluminum |
| Dimensions | 14 m × 7.0 m (46 ft × 23 ft) |
| Location | Porter station, Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Owner | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority |
Gift of the Wind is a huge outdoor sculpture. It was created by an artist named Susumu Shingu. You can find it in Porter Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It stands at the Porter subway and train station.
This artwork is special because it's a kinetic sculpture. This means it moves! It has a tall white pole with three red "wings" on top. These wings are made to move with the wind. They can spin around and even tumble over in different ways. Many people think it's one of the most famous sights in Cambridge.
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How the Sculpture Was Made
The Gift of the Wind sculpture was ordered in 1983. It was finished and shown to the public in 1985. This was part of a special program called "Arts on the Line." This program was started by the MBTA (the local transportation group) and the Cambridge Arts Council.
Bringing Art to the Subway
The "Arts on the Line" program was the first of its kind. Its goal was to add art to the new subway stations. These stations were being built for the Red Line in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This program became a model for other cities across the country. They also wanted to add public art.
Gift of the Wind was one of 20 artworks chosen for this program. Over 400 artists sent in their ideas. The artworks were placed in five new subway stations. All 20 artworks, including this one, cost about $695,000. This was a small part of the total cost to build the Red Line extension.
Working Together on the Design
Susumu Shingu designed his sculpture at the same time the Porter subway station was being built. He worked with the station's designers, Cambridge Seven Associates. Louis Bakanowsky, who started Cambridge Seven, said that modern sculptures should deal with space and movement. He felt this artwork would connect people's feelings with the natural world.
Original Plans for the Sculpture
The artists first planned for Gift of the Wind to reach down into the subway station. When the wind made the sculpture move, it would cause hammers to hit chimes inside the station. This would happen through a large light shaft. However, this idea was later changed and not built.
The sculpture needed some repairs in the 1990s. These repairs cost about $40,000.
