Our wind sculptures are well-suited for a wide variety of climates and outdoor environments. One reason why we offer so many sizing options is to ensure our clients have a variety of sculpture options to suit their individual needs. Wind is a variable entity, and oftentimes unpredictable; your kinetic sculpture will move in concert with the wind, from slow and calm rotations to more energetic spins and swirls.

Our sculptures that move in two opposite directions (such as the Orb) will not always have both parts moving in concert. When wind increases, you will see the blades, like sails, will catch enough wind to move them in the other direction. You’ll want to place your kinetic sculpture in a spot that’s not in a “wind shadow,” or area with tall trees, dense vegetation, and walls or fences: in short, attributes which potentially hamper wind flow and may interfere with optimal conditions for your sculpture’s movement.

In almost all cases, people tell us they were pleasantly surprised by the ease of setting up their wind sculptures. Your purchase includes everything you’ll need to install your sculpture: the pole, ground stake, and hardware. Your sculpture will arrive in two packages: a PVC pipe which contains the pole and ground stake; and a box which contains your wind sculpture. Once your ground stake is inserted into the ground, your pole slips over it and gets tightened with a set screw; next, your sculpture goes on top! With the exception of our largest sculptures, most of our kinetic works can easily be installed by one person. Instructions included in your shipment (and also on the website) will guide you in the installation process.

The finish on our blades (except for Stainless Steel) is a unique patina that is covered with a clear coat (similar to an automotive clear coat) containing the best ultraviolet and corrosion inhibitors available. The durability of our patina and clear coat is similar to that of auto body paint with an automotive clear coat.
Even though auto body paint is durable, cars patina over time and so do our blades. All metal will age when exposed to outdoor conditions and we believe that this natural, organic process enhances the uniqueness of each sculpture.
The blades are not painted or coated in a solid layer of color. Patina is not supposed to be smooth, predictable or even. It should be marbled, flecked, and have variations. Don’t forget that these sculptures are meant to be admired while moving and from a distance, not stationary. To accelerate the beautiful aging process, we apply dioxides. Every blade is handmade, not machine made, and will never be completely uniform.

Verdigris blades should be allowed to patina naturally and should NOT be cleaned, wiped, or waxed with anything.
The easiest and safest way to clean your colored or stainless steel blades is by brushing any dust off with a soft paper towel, being careful not to rub the blades or use friction. You can also clean them by simply spraying them with your hose, using a little bit of water pressure.
Applying quality car / carnauba wax 1-2 times a year will help maintain its original luster. Do NOT apply wax to blades that have a Verdigris patina! Carnauba wax should only be applied to: Lacquered Copper, Stainless Steel, Red, Blue, Purple, or Teal blades.

The stainless steel that is used for bearings and other places where hardened parts are necessary have increased carbon content and are mildly magnetic. The rust you may notice will wipe off with a mildly abrasive cloth (like the scrubbing part of the back of a kitchen sponge.)

When this occurs it’s due to fine particles of steel from the machining of the thread rod and tubing that accumulate in various places from rain and condensation when the sculpture is first exposed to elements. After wiping this off a few times it will no longer accumulate. You may rest assured that all parts are of the highest quality stainless steel.

First thing is to make sure you have followed all of the Installation Instructions (click here to view instructions), double checking that you have leveled two sides of the pole that are perpendicular to each other and that you have set the set screw in the pole to maintain it’s positioning on the ground stake.

Your sculpture may have a bit of sand or fine grit stuck in it. Dirt and grit can build up over time or be caused by snow/storms and get stuck in the moving parts of the sculpture, making it not able to spin freely. We recommend spraying it with a hose and using a bit of water pressure, you should also slowly spin the blades forwards and backwards while spraying to try and get it all cleaned out. We do not recommend using any sort of grease on the moving mechanisms as these are permanently lubricated stainless steel bearings. If you add anything like WD-40 it could make any sand/grit that has accumulated stick to the bearings which can compound any issues.

If after trying this it still isn’t spinning freely then we will need you to submit a Warranty & Repair Form (click here to fill out form).  This form allows us to get all the details we need in order to serve you best. Once submitted, it will go directly to our studio and you will be contacted in 2-3 business days. The form also lets you upload images and/or videos of your piece. We will need to see a photo or video of the sculptures in order to assist you.

We may decide your sculpture needs new bearings. Our clients have a lifetime warranty on the kinetic drive-train (bearings and solid center rod) so if you need new bearings, we will ship them at zero cost to you and they will arrive with instructions on how to replace them.

We make all of our kinetic wind sculptures here in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico. We are proud to have our sculptures on display and for purchase on Canyon Road, and proud to make our artwork here in our city.

Mark White’s TrancerKaleidoscope, and Wind Ripples sculptures demonstrate the unpredictability and capriciousness of the wind. These pieces have two separate wheels that move independently of each other and often not at the same speed (depending on wind currents). They also have a center rod that rotates the sculpture horizontally in order to seek the wind.
These sculptures each create a unique visual illusion, through movement. They respond to the micro-climate, reflecting the disorganized gusts of wind in a whimsical dance, and turning the randomness of nature into a visual wonder. Mark believes unpredictability is what makes his work the most fascinating. These are not factory made, motorized products, they are reflections of the wind.
Artists tip – From Mark: If you are seeking to find a more consistent motion from these pieces, carry the sculpture around your outdoor space until you find a location and angle that you enjoy. You can tighten your set screw to no longer allow the sculpture to rotate on a horizontal axis and keep it facing one direction.

Mark White’s wind sculptures will move with as little as 2 MPH of wind, and can take up to gail force winds. Incidentally, they will usually start moving with winds of just one mile per hour! That being said, we always advise common sense when it comes to storms and extreme weather conditions. If your area is facing a coming hail storm, or a strong, sustained snowstorm, it’s relatively simple to remove your sculpture from the pole it rests on, enabling you to bring the sculpture indoors for the duration of extreme weather. In most cases, your sculpture will do fine with heavy rain and snow.

Your sculpture will be completely silent unless it gets dirt or dust build-up around the bearings (the parts which spin.) Please do not lubricate the sculpture. That will not solve the problem. You can either let it work itself out, or spray the moving parts with water from your garden hose. This will help clean everything out and should take care of the issue.

Imperfections:
Verdigris– Verdigris is the natural patina of copper. Depending on your environment (especially humidity or exposure to salts or pollution), the patina may turn a brighter green or bronze or grey. The tips of the blades tend to not get as saturated with the verdigris patina. If the tips don’t look as saturated when you first receive your sculpture don’t worry, they will even out over time from natural patina process.

Shiny/Color– Sometimes the patina won’t stick fully to the copper. If on a new sculpture you see a spot that looks like color is missing don’t worry, it will patina over time, eventually blend in, and not be noticeable.

Mark White Kinetic Studio offers a Lifetime Warranty on the Kinetic Drive-Train of all Kinetic Wind Sculptures. The Kinetic Drive-Train is composed of; bearings and solid center rod. All bearings are 100% stainless steel, pre-lubricated, and sealed (aerospace graded).
Please confirm that you have followed all of the installation instructions – markwhitefineart.com/instructions, double checking that you have leveled two sides of the pole that are perpendicular to each other and that you have set the set screw in the pole to maintain it’s positioning on the ground stake.
If after trying this it still isn’t spinning freely then we will need you to submit a warranty & repair form at this link on our website – markwhitefineart.com/warranty-repair-form  This form allows us to get all the details we need in order to serve you best. Once submitted, it will go directly to our studio and they will be contacting you quickly to assist you. The form also lets you upload images and/or videos of your piece. Our artisans will need to see a photo or video of the sculpture before they can assist you.

– Natural patinas and aging of the copper blades and surface oxidation of stainless steel components.
– Damage or malfunction caused by external factors such as but not limited to; tree branches, lawnmowers, flying debris, etc.
– Any discontinued wind sculpture. Bearings or replacement parts for these sculptures will be billed on a case by case basis and charged the appropriate shipping cost.
– Failure to read and follow the provided instructions will void the warranty.

We understand that last-minute gifts are sometimes the best ones! Each order gets put in the queue and is custom made. It takes 2-3 months for fabrication and delivery. This varies, of course, based on the complexity of the sculpture you choose and on your location. If we cannot get your order to you in time for a special event, we can create a custom card / certificate that can show what wind sculpture is currently being created. Email us at info@markwhitefineart.com for this request.