blowin’ in the wind

by Lisa Truesdale

artist Mark White’s mesmerizing kinetic sculptures

SPINNING WILDLY in a blustery wind or twirling lazily in a soft breeze, artist Mark White’s kinetic sculptures are not just mechanical marvels but mind-bending optical illusions.

The outdoor sculptures, as high as 5 feet and mounted on poles soaring another 8 feet, are orbs, spirals, or abstract representations of flowers, plants and even jellyfish, making a dramatic and colorful statement in the garden.

White had been making art— mostly painting—decades ago when he first had the idea for the wind sculptures while working full-time as a metalworker in the HVAC industry.

“I’d get up at three or four to paint before work since early morning is when I’ve always felt most creative,” White says. “I was also trying to find a way to use my metalwork in my art.” He wasn’t sure quite how to do that—until he watched one of his daughter’s dance performances.

“As I watched the dancers rotate on stage, sometimes one would turn in the opposite direction, and that inspired me,” he says. “I loved the idea of counter-revolving movement; they turned and spun in opposite directions, and the lines of their arms and legs became my abstractions for my sculptures.”

White began crafting the sculptures in his spare time. Not only did he make the art, but he also had to design the metal-cutting tools needed to create the distinctive shapes and sizes, and he developed a proprietary patina process. “After ten years,” he says, “I decided to give it my all, to make my art my occupation.” He and his wife, Sue, moved from Aspen, Colorado, to Santa Fe, where he opened a studio, and his sculptures quickly earned a loyal following.

Built to withstand high winds, the pieces come with important tips on where to place them in the yard to successfully catch the wind.

They also include an interesting disclaimer—one that’s just as whimsical as the sculptures themselves: “Extended viewing may cause extreme relaxation and bouts of pleasant daydreaming.”

The sculptures and White’s paintings can be ordered from markwhitefineart.com or purchase sculptures at Luca Decor on Canyon Road in Santa Fe.