Weather Machine, Public artwork in Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland, United States.
Weather Machine is a sculpture made from bronze and stainless steel in Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland, United States. The construction rises about 9 meters (30 feet) high and consists of a column with wind scoops that supports a globe with moving weather symbols.
The work was created in 1988 by local artist Terence Grimwood after a public competition. The unveiling drew thousands of visitors and made the sculpture a permanent part of the cityscape.
The machine goes by the nickname Orca and puts on a show with music and mist every noon. Portland residents gather in the square and wait for the daily weather ritual, which has become part of their lunch break for decades.
The performance begins promptly at noon with trumpet fanfares and lasts two minutes. Stand near the column to see the mist and light effects more clearly.
The globe at the top opens and reveals one of three animals depending on the weather. A sun appears in clear skies, a heron during drizzle, and a dragon during heavy rain.
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