Six light poles react directly to the wind via a wind vane, an anemometer and a specially developed interactive system; light moves up and down the poles in response to wind speeds and the colour scheme of the poles is dictated by wind direction.
Visitors to the artwork can therefore experience the wind as colour and movement at the same time as they feel it on their skin. It is also possible to learn how to ‘read’ the wind; for example the image to the right shows a ‘low northerly.
The artwork is powered by two wind turbines (with the batteries and a controller unit located inside the central seating enclosure). The light source is RGB (Red, Green, Blue) LEDs providing a broad spectrum of light colours in relation to different wind directions.
The interactive feedback technology (software and hardware) was developed in association with Bob Farrell. Sundog Energy advised on wind turbine technology and installed the system in association with engineers of Blackpool Council. Blackpool Borough Council commissioned the piece as one of several public artworks as part of the redevelopment of the south shore promenade.
![the-wind-05[1]-72_WEB_1400px](http://www.hurrelvisualarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/the-wind-051-72_WEB_1400px.jpg)
