Blowhole - Art on the Waterfront

 

Blowhole
This 15 metre high wind-powered sculpture was created in November 2005 by Australian artist Duncan Stemler who has an interest in kinetic and public sculpture. Blowhole is a large scale public art commission (won through competition) for Vic Urban in Docklands. The armature and cups interact with each other to form patterns, colours and shadows. The cups are arranged to pick up the wind like an anemometer on the top of a yacht’s mast and spin in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction with the rotation speed dependent on the prevailing wind.

 

Ian Potter Museum of Art director Chris McAuliffe said of Blowhole, it was sensitive to the location and shows a sense of history, which is to say it has something of a maritime, waterfront promenade feel.

Below is a short vidoe of Blowhole in action -


It is fascinating to watch it in action - see the cups how they spin and turn as they are propelled forever forward in motion by the wind.

Usually, the images you see of Blowhole are of the two up top. Below are two not often shown.

 

Above: Blowhole with rings
The rings are strategically placed around the Blowhole.

 

Above: Close-up
The rings came up to about waist high.


Today's Quote: Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will ~ George Bernard Shaw