Whirligig Park will give Wilson unique identity

National Park Service historian Dennis Montagna likes Vollis Simpson, Vollis Simpson's whirligigs, and the city of Wilson's plan for installing whirligigs on a vacant lot to create a Whirligig Park downtown. I'm not surprised. Simpson's whirligigs are on display at museums and public parks all over the world, and the works are just about universally admired by art curators and others whose artistic opinions are respected.

But when the city and state announced plans for the Whirligig Park, some know-nothings commented (anonymously, of course) on the newspaper's Web site that they didn't want that "junk" in Wilson. I'm sure they feel the same way about Chicago's iconic Picasso outdoor sculpture.

Simpson's whirligigs have already found a place in downtown Wilson, with two flanking the Nash Street-Tarboro Street intersection and another standing guard at the Employment Security Commission building. With only those installations, the whirligigs give an identity to downtown Wilson, setting it apart from other cities that would like to have unique identifier like those whirligigs.

The Whirligig Park can be a real attraction for Wilson — a place to take visitors and a sort of logo for the city. Wilson is not blessed with many natural wonders, and its trademark tobacco, antiques, trees and fine old homes are all things many another city can boast about. But whirligigs? They set this place apart. Montagna should know what he's talking about: Whirligigs are our Liberty Bell, Rodeo Drive, Gateway Arch or French Quarter — the thing that identifies where we are. Thanks, Vollis!