Gift of the Wind

Gift of the Wind

Company type	Public art installation
Industry	Art, Sculpture
Founded	1985
Founder	Susumu Shingu
Headquarters	Cambridge, Massachusetts , United States
Products	Kinetic sculpture

Gift of the Wind is an expansive public kinetic sculpture created by Susumu Shingu, situated at the Porter subway and commuter rail hub in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This piece consists of a tall white mast supporting three red "wings" that respond dynamically to wind currents, rotating and tumbling through intricate motions. It stands as one of the most notable landmarks within Cambridge.

History

Unveiled in 1985 following its commission in 1983, Gift of the Wind was a significant element of the MBTA and Cambridge Arts Council's groundbreaking Arts on the Line initiative. This program incorporated artistic works into the MBTA’s Northwest Extension of the Red Line subway stations, establishing a model for public transit art nationwide. From a pool exceeding 400 submissions, 20 pieces—including this sculpture—were chosen for installation at five newly constructed stations. The total funding allocated was $695,000 USD, accounting for half a percent of the extension’s overall construction expenditures.

Susumu Shingu worked in close partnership with Cambridge Seven Associates, the architectural firm responsible for Porter station’s design, to seamlessly merge the sculpture with the station’s structural environment. Louis Bakanowsky, founder of Cambridge Seven, highlighted that contemporary sculpture should interact with spatial elements and motion to create meaningful connections with both observers and nature.

Initially, the design intended to visually link the sculpture with the subway station below through a light shaft mechanism that would trigger chimes as the wings moved; however, this feature was ultimately not implemented.

The sculpture’s upkeep presented difficulties due to differing perspectives between Shingu and the MBTA regarding inspection routines and lubrication methods. During the 1990s, repairs totaling $40,000 were performed to maintain its functionality.