Central Park

The sky above Chippendale is now host to a monumental new artwork, the second installation in Central Park's Artists In Residence public art programme.

Mikala Dwyer's 'Windwatcher', a giant, eye-catching windsock, was positioned atop the heritage-listed 52-metre tall chimney of the iconic Irving Street Brewery on Wednesday. 'Windwatcher' is now flying high from the chimney stack, ‘dancing’ in the wind and mesmerizing passers-by with what the artist describes as a “simple but profound” reminder not just of the sky, but of the majestic force of the wind.

The huge windsock is made of synthetic canvas, measuring 10.5 metres in length and two metres in diameter at the throat or widest end, and 850mm in diameter at the tail. The windsock includes a support structure for half of its length that will maintain the windsock in a largely horizontal position out from the chimney.

Installed and fabricated by specialist engineering firm, Event Engineering, the windsock will fly according to the direction of the wind, providing Sydney with a creative new indicator of the prevailing winds.

'Windwatcher' has been put through rigorous testing to ensure it will withstand harsh weather conditions. In August, a prototype windsock was taken to Eastern Creek Raceway, affixed to a car and raced around the track at various speeds – simulating various wind conditions.

“It was certainly one of the more unusual experiences of my creative life to date”, said artist Mikala Dwyer.

More on Artists in Residence | Artists In Residence is a is a temporary public art project which will occupy Central Park's heritage brewery yard buildings and brick stack, from April for a year or two. A collection of Australian artists is creating works specifically for this unusual and spectacularly visible site - just off Broadway, in the thick of Central Park's construction activity.

Each artist has been given free rein to create an artwork that will not only contribute to the creative character of the Chippendale community, but will also be inspired by what art advisor Michaelie Crawford describes as “the history, fluids, processes and intoxications of the site’s brewing past”. As each artist installs a new work, the previous works will remain – building to a playful collective ‘conversation’ between the works.

'Artists In Residence' was conceived by Frasers' Central Park art advisors Jennifer Turpin and Michaelie Crawford, and is being curated by Anne Loxley.

No special permission needed to view this work – you can see it from miles away – or stroll off Broadway outside the Central Park Display Pavilion for a perfect, up-close view.