Whirligig conservationists keep magic moving with annual repairs

Wilson is known for the whirligigs, large kinetic sculptures made by Vollis Simpson.

They spin all year long, like a windmill, but it's not as effortless as it might seem.

Dedicated conservationists conduct routine maintenance checks two to four times a year to ensure the longevity of the iconic sculptures.

After a recent evaluation, three whirligigs were taken down for routine maintenance.

Whirligig Conservationist Sam Price has worked on the whirligigs for over ten years.

"I like to take stuff that don't work and make it work," Price said.

With 30 whirligigs to work on, Price is a busy man.

He has a background in woodworking and calls himself a mechanic, but never in a million years did he expect to be working on whirligigs.

"Many people out there, I'm sure, could do it, but not everyone is willing to do it," he said.

Maintaining the Whirligigs is a team effort. It costs $120,000 to $200,000 annually, covering labor, parts, and various repairs.

Their creator, Vollis Simpson, passed away in 2013. He made whirligigs until his death at 94.

That same dedication you'll see in the men who work on them today.

"I get a lot of marks. My arms are torn up, but I love it. I mean, it doesn't doesn't bother me," Price said.

Price said it's all about maintaining the legacy of the creator.

"Some he put up, and he would weld several things on each other," Price said. "We had to figure out how to take them apart and put them back together to make them look like we didn't do anything to them but paint them."

Joe Justice won't call himself an artist, but all the tools and paint kits surrounding his work space tell a different story. When you ask him about his connection to the whirligigs, he will tell you that working on them feels like his destiny.

He remembers the first time he saw the whirligigs.

"I stopped for a few minutes and watched them spin, and I thought, this is good. This is cool," Justice said.

There's a sense of pride here, knowing their work keeps Wilson whirling.

While insurance covers catastrophic events like hurricanes, routine maintenance, and minor damages rely heavily on public support and fundraising initiatives.

You can find a link to donate to the whirligig fund here.