Seeing the Path of the Wind

Mass MoCA, North Adams, Massachusetts, 2000–01 and Moore College of Art and Design Philadelphia Pennsylvania, 1991.

A weather vane and anemometer, placed on the roof of the gallery sends wind speed and direction data into a digital weather station inside. This station turns off and on eight fans at the cardinal points of a thirty foot diameter compass made of 1,300 organza flags. As the wind irection outdoors changes, the corresponding fans would turn on and off, to simulate the wind flowing through the building. Depending on the velocity of the wind speed, the flags will ripple of fully extend. Incoming storms can be detected by changes in the wind’s prevailing direction.