Vollis simpson biography definition and example

Vollis Simpson

American folk artist and dramatist (–)

Vollis Simpson

Simpson in

Born
Died()May 31, (aged 94)

Lucama, North Carolina

NationalityAmerican
Years&#;activec.

Known&#;forWhirligig folk art

Vollis Simpson (&#;– May 31, )[1] was an American "outsider" folk artist known for large kinetic sculptures called "whirligigs", which Simpson made from salvaged metal. He lived and worked in Lucama, North Carolina.

Many of his larger pieces are on display at the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson, North Carolina, about 10 miles from Lucama.

Vollis simpson biography definition psychology

Vollis Simpson ( – May 31, ) [1] was an American "outsider" folk artist known for large kinetic sculptures called "whirligigs", which Simpson made from salvaged metal. He lived and worked in Lucama, North Carolina.

Life before art

"[I've been a] farmhouse mover, electric welder, carpenter, the list goes on. If you don't try something, you don't learn anything. Common sense. You come across a lot of these people that know so damn much, sometimes you find out they're dumber than I am"

— Vollis Simpson, from PBS documentary about Simpson's life[2]

Vollis Simpson was born January 17, , to Oscar and Emma Watson Simpson of Spring Hill Township in Wilson County, North Carolina.

According to his wife, Jean Simpson, he was 8th of 12 children.[3][better&#;source&#;needed] He left school after the 11th grade.[4]

Though not attracted to farming, Simpson found work servicing the farm's equipment, such as the threshers, bailers, tractors, and pumps which are used in farming.[5]

Simpson served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II in the Pacific Theatre.[1] He demonstrated his intuitive engineering skills while stationed on Saipan in the Northern Marianas Islands, where he constructed a windmill out of parts from a junk B Superfortress bomber to power a washing machine for his company.[6][7]

After the war, Simpson founded a house-moving operation with his brothers to supplement the income from the family farm.

He designed and built much of the heavy equipment they used to move houses, creating a first of its kind crop sprayer.[3][better&#;source&#;needed] He also ran a machine shop for decades.[4]

The United States Census shows Simpson living at home with his parents, two sisters &#; Hazel, four years older, Eleanor, five years younger &#; and younger brother, Daryl.

Vollis simpson biography definition Vollis Simpson ( – May 31, ) [1] was an American "outsider" folk artist known for large kinetic sculptures called "whirligigs", which Simpson made from salvaged metal. He lived and worked in Lucama, North Carolina.

His occupation is listed as "farming".[8]

Art career

Simpson retired at the age of 65,[9] and began to build wind-driven structures which he called "windmills", but came to be called whirligigs.[5] He built a number of large whirligigs on his property in Lucama surrounding a pond across from his workshop.

This was referred to by locals as "Acid Park" because of how the sculptures would reflect car headlights when people came out after dark.[10][11]

Simpson was commissioned to create a whirligig for the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. The foot (17&#;m) high, foot (14&#;m) wide whirligig called "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" was installed for the museum's opening in November, [12][6][4] He was also commissioned to create whirligigs for the Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Four of his works were installed at the Olympic Folk Art Park and remained there on permanent display.[13][14]

Other of Simpson's whirligigs have been exhibited at the American Folk Art Museum in New York City and at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum in Williamsburg, Virginia.[5] Some of his sculptures have sold for thousands of dollars.[4]

Recognition

In , Wilson, North Carolina, held its first annual Wilson Whirligig Festival.[15] The festival was renamed in to the North Carolina Whirligig Festival,[16] and is usually held the first full weekend of November.[17] The Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park was created in Wilson to document, conserve, and display the large sculptures from Simpson's land in Lucama.[18] The park had its grand opening on November 2, [19] Simpson acted as a consultant for the renovation of the whirligigs for display.

The North Carolina legislature recognized Simpson's contributions and in June designated Simpson's Whirligigs as the official folk art of North Carolina.[20][21][22]

Death

Simpson died at his home in his sleep on May 31, He was [4]

References

  1. ^ abYardley, William (June 5, ).

    "Vollis Simpson, Visionary Artist of the Junkyard, Dies at 94". The New York Times. Retrieved October 30,

  2. ^"PBS North Carolina Presents | Changes in the Wind | Season | PBS". PBS. Retrieved
  3. ^ abJean Simpson
  4. ^ abcdeYardley, William (June 5, ) "Vollis Simpson, Visionary Artist of the Junkyard, Dies at 94"The New York Times
  5. ^ abcInformational sign at Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park, Wilson, North Carolina
  6. ^ abShane, Scott (April 5, ).

    "Junkyard Poet of Whirligigs and Windmills".

  7. Vollis simpson biography definition wikipedia
  8. Vollis simpson biography definition ap
  9. Vollis simpson biography definition and example

    10. The New York Times. Retrieved October 30,

  10. ^"Vollis Simpson | South Writ Large". . Retrieved October 30,
  11. ^ US Census Record
  12. ^"Story of the Whirligigs in Downtown Wilson Whirligig Park". Retrieved
  13. ^"Whirligig Park (Formerly Acid Park)".

    Atlas Obscura. Retrieved October 30,

  14. ^Vitiello, Chris (June 5, ). "The extraordinary legacy of whirligig creator Vollis Simpson". Indy Week. Retrieved October 30,
  15. ^Cindy Kelly (3 May ).

    Vollis simpson biography definition us history Farm machinery repairman, Vollis Simpson, began making gigantic kinetic sculptures at his family farm in Wilson County when he was nearing retirement age. He kept making his “whirligigs”–seven days a week–until about six months before he died at the age of 94 in May of

    Outdoor Sculpture in Baltimore: A Historical Guide to Public Art in the Monumental City. JHU Press. pp.&#;–. ISBN&#;.

  16. ^"Olympic Notebook: Whirligigs headed for Atlanta". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan,USA. Associated Press.

  17. Story of the Whirligigs in Downtown Wilson Whirligig Park
  18. Story of the Whirligigs in Downtown Wilson Whirligig Park
  19. Vollis Simpson (1919-2013) - Find a Grave Memorial
  20. Vollis Simpson: The Don Quixote of East-Central North Carolina
  21. Vollis Simpson: The Don Quixote of East-Central North Carolina

    22. June 19, p.&#;4B. Retrieved October 30, &#; via

  22. ^"The Atlanta Public Arts Legacy Fund: Folk Art Park". . APAL Fund in care of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. Retrieved October 30,
  23. ^"Profile of the City"(PDF). .

    Vollis simpson Vollis Simpson was born in Simpson's first whirligig was built to power a washing machine while he was stationed on Saipan in the Marianas Islands in the Second World War. After the war, he designed and built heavy equipment for moving houses and opened a repair shop in a rural crossroads community in eastern North Carolina.

    Retrieved October 29,

  24. ^"Whirligig Festival goes statewide". The Wilson Times. Wilson, North Carolina, USA: Morgan Dickerman. August 7, Retrieved October 29,
  25. ^"North Carolina Whirligig Festival". . City of Wilson. Retrieved October 29,
  26. ^"Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park: The Story".

    The Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park Project. 21 March Retrieved October 30,

  27. ^Beth Velliquette, Beth (October 29, ). "Art in motion: Wilson prepares to open whirligig park". . Greenville, North Carolina, USA: Cooke Communications. Retrieved October 29,
  28. ^ Legislature designates whirligigs as official folk art of North Carolina Archived at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^"North Carolina State Folk Art: Whirligigs".

    Vollis simpson biography definition wikipedia: Vollis Simpson ( – May 31, ) was an American "outsider" folk artist known for large kinetic sculptures called "whirligigs", which Simpson made from salvaged metal. He lived and worked in Lucama, North Carolina.

    . NSTATE. Retrieved October 30,

  30. ^"General Assembly honors Simpson, designates new state icons". Newslink. North Carolina Department of Commerce. June 26, Retrieved October 30,

External links