PECO Family Jams: Whirligigs

Event Description

In 1988, Isaiah Zagar, creator of the Magic Gardens, visited Vollis Simpson’s Whirligig Park in North Carolina. Simpson had used his skills as a machinist to transform his family farm into a maze of large, whimsical sculptures. Isaiah brought home several pieces of Simpson’s original artwork.

Years later, while making the Magic Gardens, Isaiah included the names and artworks of many artists who inspired him. Vollis Simpson’s name appears in the mosaics around a window in the front gallery. Four of Simpson’s metal birds fly above the hallways of our sculpture garden. Today, we will draw inspiration from Vollis Simpson’s whirligigs, and make our own garden ornament out of salvaged materials.

Learn more about the Vollis Simpson’s whirligigs during free tours of our fully mosaicked basement at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m. 

PECO Family Jams are the Magic Gardens’ family-oriented programs held on the second Sunday of every month between noon and 4:00 p.m. Crafts and basement tours are included with regular admission. Purchase your regular admission tickets in advance.