Strandbeests come to Boston

A Strandbeest was strolling across City Hall Plaza Friday under the sun.David L Ryan/Globe Staff

A massive kinetic sculpture that moves with the help of large wind-powered sails made its City Hall debut on Friday as the Strandbeests kick off their first major exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem. The huge contraption, created by artist Theo Jansen, drew a crowd as it walked along the sunny plaza.

The exhibition, dubbed "Strandbeest: The Dream Machines of Theo Jansen," opens September 19.

The sculpture was viewed by a crowd Friday.David L Ryan/Globe Staff

A model was blown by Jonathan Talit with the Peabody Essex Museum to demonstrate how the sculpture functions.David L Ryan/Globe Staff

The wind-powered Strandbeest was helped along by a person due to lack of breeze.David L Ryan/Globe Staff