Acid Park

In this photograph, Burk Uzzle captures folk artist Vollis Simpson’s whirligigs on a foggy morning in 2009 before their relocation to the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson, North Carolina. After retiring, Simpson began building whirligigs using the spare parts remaining from his careers as mechanic and house-mover. These whirligigs, which are reminiscent of carousels, windmills, and weather vanes, are part kinetic art (art that moves) and part assemblage (art created from a variety of non-traditional art materials). Simpson created more than thirty of these monumental works, some standing over fifty feet tall, able to move and spin in the wind. Made up of everyday materials, such as ceiling fans, bicycle parts, and mirrors, Simpson’s whirligigs reconfigure the refuse of daily life into a playful illustration of consumerism. The title of this work, "Acid Park," refers to the unofficial name locals have given the land and art installation. Many legends have circulated regarding Acid Park, and the fog that rolls through the whirligigs in Uzzle’s photograph underscores the mysteries of the park and these odd markers of modern life.