North Carolina named the giant "whirligigs" created by folk artist Vollis Simpson as the official state folk art on June 20, 2013. He was a self-taught artist that began making whirligigs at age 65 and continued making these pieces of art until age 94. He used all sorts of materials for his turning and twisting creations: fans, mirrors, pipe, textile mill rollers, bearings, etc. He made pieces out of aluminum, steel, and wood.