Wind Wand

Kinetic sculpture in New Plymouth, New Zealand

39°03′22″S 174°04′18″E / 39.056056°S 174.071736°E / -39.056056; 174.071736

The Wind Wand is a 48-metre kinetic sculpture located in New Plymouth, New Zealand.^[1] The sculpture includes a 45-metre tube of red fibreglass, and was made to designs by artist Len Lye.^[2] To residents, it is one of the main icons of New Plymouth. During the night, the Wind Wand lights up.

Costing over $300,000 it was originally installed in December 1999 along with the Coastal Walkway, it had to be taken down within weeks. After repairs it was reinstalled in June 2001.^[3] The red fibreglass tube stands vertical in still air, but bends in the wind.^[4]

On 17 September 2017, the Wind Wand was struck by lightning.

Materials

The Wind Wand is constructed out of fibreglass and carbon fibre. It weighs around 900 kg and has a diameter of 200 mm. The Wind Wand can bend at least 20 m. The red sphere on the top contains 1,296 light-emitting diodes.^[5]

References

^ "From Wind Wand to Waving Wands". Govett Brewster. Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
^ "Our Wind Wand". Windwand.co.nz. Archived from the original on 18 November 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
^ "Wind wand returns to New Plymouth shore". The Press. 27 June 2001. Retrieved 15 December 2009.^{[dead link]}
^ "Puke Ariki". New Plymouth Top 10 Holiday Park. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
^ "Len Lye Wind Wand". New Plymouth District Council. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2012.