WILSON, N.C. — The eccentric vision of a self-taught North Carolina artist famed for his whimsical, wind-powered whirligigs is getting an overhaul that’s as much about engineering as it is about art.

The roadrunner and duck whirligigs are whimsical pieces of folk art designed to decorate your yard. Whirligigs are simply a variation of the weather vane, as they stir in the breeze and indicate the ...

Whirligigs come in a variety of styles. Some move on a windy day like pinwheels. Some are moving toys, for example a man chopping wood. Many are moving garden pieces such as people chopping wood or ...

Whirligigs were invented centuries ago. They are both toys and tools, indicators of wind direction and the weather. Sources disagree on where the first were made; it was probably in China about 400 ...