Whirl of Art
Art Towers by city: 
Winghorn of Dallas / Fort Worth TX                 

The art piece, titled 'Winghorn,' is a tribute to Pegasus, the unofficial mascot of Dallas, Texas, and the Longhorn bull, the official mascot of Fort Worth, Texas. Standing as a symbol of the home for North Texas burners, the art piece takes the form of a Pegasus with the head of a Longhorn. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, each wing features intricate designs of bluebonnets carved into the wood. The wooden surface of the sculpture is charred and tinted purple. The bull's eyes are a prominent focal point, made from iridescent glass lit from the inside, creating an almost otherworldly glow that makes the creature appear as if it’s watching over the playa.

 

Similar to other art installations in the Whirl of Art, 'Winghorn' is connected to the merry-go-round and offers an interactive and kinetic experience. When burners hop on the merry-go-round and begin their whimsical ride, the creature lowers and raises its head, exhaling puffs of smoke with every turn.

 

At night, the body of the animal and the wings is outlined in LED lights. The eyes of the bull glow purple, while red lights highlight the smoke coming out of its nose. Multiple spotlights up-light the sculpture in purple from the corners of the pedestal.

The inside of the base is transformed into a colorful art gallery with modern wall designs and futuristic light fixtures, referencing the growth of the cities as art and technological centers. The gallery features individual contributions from a diverse group of Dallas/Fort Worth artists focusing on animal and plans that are part of our environment.

 

The exterior of the base is adorned with intricate murals depicting landscapes, plants, and animals—a living tapestry of nature representing this part of Texas, illuminated with downlight LED strips at night. 'Winghorn' serves as a reminder that, although burns unite people in a collective celebration of self-expression, we should not lose the sense of wonder that comes from connecting with the nature around us.

Sculpture design

  • Combining body of a pegasus with a head of a longhorn. Surface is charred and stained purple.

 

  • The head moves up and down, and is connected to the merry-go-round via a cable, so it lowers when the cables is loose and raises when the cable is pulled. 

 

  • Smoke machine is hidden inside the head so red-lighted puffs of fog comes out of the bull's nostrils.

 

  • Wings are cut using cnc machine with bluebonnet designs

Base walls design ideas

Texas is very large, and most of it is barely inhabited by humans. Design of the walls for this tower is to be a tribute to the unique collection of animals and plants we share our lives with. 

ARTful Minds Collective

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