Artwork copyright Sue and Peter Richards. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Sue and Peter Richards. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Sue and Peter Richards. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Sue and Peter Richards. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Sue and Peter Richards. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Wind Riders, 2002

Sue and Peter Richards
Sue Richards (American (born 1944))) - Peter Richards (American (born 1944)))

Location: Washington State University - Tri Cities, Richland

About the Artwork

Wind is a strong natural phenomenon in the Tri-Cities area of Southeastern Washington. Local Native American stories tell of the struggles between warm and cold winds in the area. This relationship between wind and the surrounding landscape inspired Wind Riders by Sue Richards and Peter Richards. This installation is located along the bike path at Washington State University's Tri-Cities Campus. It is comprised of three wind vanes made from repurposed bicycles. The artists mounted the bicycles onto 20-foot poles, which swing freely to show the direction of the prevailing wind. This artwork also includes a bench and a native plant garden, both nearby. The installation serves as a rest stop and encourages path users to stop and enjoy the views.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Washington State University.

About the Artist

Artist team Sue Richards and Peter Richards collaborate on large-scale public art installations. They approach each site individually, creating a unique visual language for the project. They are based in Oakland, California.
Sue Richards earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado College in 1966. In addition to her art practice, she works as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher in San Francisco, California.
Peter Richards earned a Bachelor of Arts degree (1966) from Colorado College and a Master of Fine Arts degree (1969) from the Maryland Institute College of Art. He has served as a professor at Stanford University and at the San Francisco Art Institute (both in California), and as Senior Artist Emeritus at the Exploratorium in San Francisco since 2011.