After 11 years in action the completely refurbished Zephyrometer is re-installed (April 10–11, 2014, Evans Bay, Wellington, New Zealand)
Wellington is located at the southern tip of Aotearoa / New Zealand’s North Island / Te Ika-a-Māui and sits plum in the middle of the Roaring 40s, in addition the geography of narrow Cook Strait separating North & South islands funnels the strong westerly winds increasing their velocity and gustiness—which is why Wellington is known to Kiwis as “Windy Wellington”. Zephyrometer is situated in one of the capital’s windier spots en-route to the airport which means it has been enjoyed by millions since 2003, and sees it regarded with some affection and pride by many Wellingtonians. This gallery is a chronicle of the final day in the re-installation after routine maintenance and refurbishment of this marvellous work.
How it works
Zeph’ is a civic sculpture made by Christchurch artist Phil Price between 2001–3 and was installed Wellington in 2003. It is a wind-and-gravity-activated kinetic sculpture consisting of a 3250 kg ‘balanced’ lead counterweight housed in a durable composite shell fixed to a gimbal at the base of a 26m tall needle. The gimbal consists of a pair of pivots that swivel at right angles at the base of the needle, the yoke pivot is akin to an ‘axle’ allowing rolling rotation of the 26m tall needle from 90° vertical down through to 0°/ horizontal. The yoke is in turn attached to a spindle or hub that allows the it to pitch perpendicular to the rolling motion of the 26m needle.
My involvement with the Zephyrometer project began in 2001 when I was commissioned by Price to illustrate a mock-up of the work and layout his successful submission to the Meridian competition.The overall effect is that the wind causes the tall needle to swing, to ‘meter’ both wind direction and speed. But the invisible and often overlooked force that is constantly at work on the needle’s action, at the same time, is gravity, which imparts a pendulum action to the needle. Because of the gimbal gravity is always opposing the needle’s pitching and rolling movements, much like the action of a yacht’s keel on its mast. So gravity and the flex in the Spar Mast dampens down the effect of all sudden, violent shifts in wind speed and direction thereby protecting the moving parts from tremendously destructive shear forces. Gravity constantly acts on the 3250 kg counterweight making the needle relentlessly seek the rest position where the needle is perpendicular to the ground with the counterweight’s centre of gravity hanging directly beneath.
Zephyrometer’s action in the wind is a composite of pendulum and wind vane. The clever tapered spar design means the action of the needle is self feathering, the nearer to horizontal it approaches the less windage the needle presents while at the same time the leverage exerted by the counterweight constantly opposes both pitch & roll. These clever design features have enabled Zephyrometer to ‘ride out’ the worst roaring Wellington westerlies and southerlies for over a decade.
The needle itself consists of a laminated Oregon Spar Mast skilfully sculpted by the artist to the tapered needle point over its 26m length. This spar is a single unit encased in a composite shell finished with durable automotive 2-pot lacquer. The composites used include carbon fibre, fibre-glass and kevlar. Steel, Kevlar and fibreglass are used in areas where very high strength is required such as in the housing for the steel pivot stub axles and one-of-a-kind custom-made bearings where the counterbalance weight connects to the yoke. Carbon fibre is used as much as practicable throughout the needle housing because the lighter the entire sculpture is, the more responsive it is to the wind, and the closer to a wind dance Zephyrometer’s action.
Complete refurbishment and reinstallation documentary photography
This ‘Art at Work’ project forms part of an 8 year ongoing collaboration between myself and Phil (Phil Price Sculpture and MagentaDot Brands)—a work in progress that aims to progressively document both Phil’s completed works and methodologies. Heroic photos of completed work have been shot and select, significant episodes of work process events such as this one have been journaled. This slideshow aims to visually chronicle two days work in Evans Bay, of Price, his highly skilled employees and sub-contractors—art at work.
Lightning strike
Sadly, on 14 August 2014 at approximately 2:30pm, Zephyrometer was struck by lightning during an awesome southerly change that slammed into Wellington, the strike was full on and devastating, leaving the tip of the needle blasted and frayed[1]. Fortunately no one was hurt. A spokesman for Wellington City Council confirmed that the “needle” is “completely stuffed”. [2] This slideshow carousel infographic depicts the instant of the strike.[3]
Site safety: On the work safety side, it is important to point out that I comply with all Occupational Safety and Health guidelines on site and hold a current Trans-Tasman ‘Workplace Health and Safety’ card.
References
- Zephyrometer (Wikipedia)
- “Sculpture struck by lightning”. —Dominion Post. 14 Aug 2014
- Lightning strikes Wellington Zephyrometer!—Solomon Emett YouTube. 12 Aug 2014
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