Tucked away in northern North Carolina, a historic downtown boasts the largest collection of Vollis Simpson’s fanciful sculptures. For those who enjoy visiting small town attractions, the Carthage Mural Trail is only 2 hours from the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park.
Vollis Simpson
Vollis Simpson retired in 1985 and began creating whirligigs. In 1996, he was commissioned to make 4 sculptures for the Atlanta Olympics.
His farm was 11 miles outside Wilson, North Carolina. Here Simpson’s whimsical ‘windmills’ were on display for tourists. As his health declined, a plan was announced to create a park in downtown Wilson and transport his creations there to delight future visitors.
In 2012, Simpson was named Southern Living “Hero of the New South.” Simpson’s whirligigs were designated as the official folk art of North Carolina in 2013.
Simpson passed away in 2013 at the age of 94. That same year, the park broke ground. Its grand opening kicked off in November 2017.
Whirligig Park
The two-acre park is home to 30 whirligigs, including some of Simpson’s largest works. Admission and parking are free, making these art behemoths accessible to all.
Each of the park’s three Info Zones has its own information sign listing work locations and their names. The central grass amphitheater is a reference to the pond on Simpson’s farm. This area is used for “Gig in the Park” concerts and performances. Surrounding The Green, whirligigs are installed as they originally were around the farm’s pond.
The kinetic sculptures are made from recycled agricultural and industrial parts. I was amazed at all the different shapes and heights – some as tall as 50 feet or more!
Each piece is unique and intricate. Unlike common whirligigs, such as pinwheels, these pieces have multiple spinning parts and move in different directions.
Many of the works feature a figure – some riding bikes, unicycles, wagons, planes, and mule trains. Figures are also seen sawing wood and playing the guitar. Greetings such as “How y’all” and “Have a nice day” are scattered throughout.
Some road signs were cut into small and large squares, making the whirligigs reflective at night.
If you are anywhere near Wilson, I highly recommend stopping to admire the magnificent works, even for a quick visit!
Carthage Digital Video Mural Trail
Five murals are within walking distance of each other in downtown Carthage. The murals depict the town’s history, culture, and memorable natives.
Each mural has a bronze-plated QR code that links to a website with in-depth stories about the work and its artist.
My two favorites were Scott Nurkin’s When Tobacco Was King and Flying for France-James R. McConnell.
