I had been accepted for an art residency at the Playland at 43rd community center (now the Shirley Chisholm Village) and I was wanting to make something that moved, something that showcased my talent, and something local from the Western Neighborhoods. I landed on the idea of the Murphy Windmill, which is located at the southwestern corner of Golden Gate Park. It was something I could model, and a windmill is something that already moves, so I could replicate that movement with a hand crank mechanism.

The Murphy Windmill appealed to me mostly because of its place in the neighborhood, not too far from where I live. I also remember growing up seeing both of Golden Gate Park’s windmills in disrepair, wondering if they would ever be restored. They finally were in the 2000s, which fuels my optimism about San Francisco.

It took quite a bit of planning to decide how to make the mechanism work. Eventually I landed on creating a box at the bottom with gears at 90 degrees, so that turning the crank would translate motion to a vertical shaft. The motion would then again be turned 90 degrees to turn the sails. I built both the top and bottom open so that viewers can see how it works. I like automata that does not hide the magic.

I made everything of wood, even the gears, which are wood discs with metal studs. The only non-wood pieces are the window frames and tail vane. Those I created in SketchUp and printed them in resin. It might seem odd to combine wood with 3D-printed materials, but I am comfortable in both mediums.

It is satisfying to see the sails turn when you turn the crank. My original idea was to drive additional animated elements inside the windmill directly from the center shaft, but I never completed that. Perhaps I will someday.

It was wonderful to show it at the art residency. It was the first piece that people would see when they stepped into the show. I think folks who saw it made the local connection right away. The windmill went on to be part of a windmill history display in the window of the Western Neighborhoods Project for several months, and I’m happy that it was able to be seen in a historical context.