Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Carousel Project
But carousels are more than just fun and frivolity. The Autism Awareness carousel presents
artists an opportunity to share their imagination with the public. The Autism Awareness
Carousel will consist of, but not be strictly limited to, animals and art designed and created by
people on the autism spectrum. Money raised by this carousel and its adjacent facilities will
help people on the spectrum with education and employment opportunities.
My on-line creative team and I have brainstormed various ideas in terms of location: zoos,
children's museums, a permanent location at the CNE, a portable carousel traveling with
“Cirque de Soliel”...all these are just ideas. In it's ideal situation, the following is what I have in
mind:
I would like the carousel to be part of a facility that is open year-round with a tea-room open
for luncheons, receptions, etc. and a gift shop/gallery where artists can sell their works. Here
is my rough sketch of the basic concept:
I realize that this rendering does not include the kitchen, and in ideal circumstances, the line
between “Main Entrance” and “Sliding Door” might also lead to an entire cultural arts centre: a
complex of various shops, museums and possibly a theatre for concerts and presentations.
These are some of the animals I've designed for the carousel so far:
I welcome the work of other artists to design a variety of animals, vehicles, etc. The carousel
will have to include at least 2 wheelchair accessible chariots with seats that give riders the
choice of hard board or soft cushions. The carousel will lit with soft LED lights and housed in
a tinted glass rotunda to allow natural sunlight without being too harsh.
I will be presenting this document to a variety of people whom I hope can help make this
dream a reality. We realize that this is a VERY BIG project and it will take a lot of money, time,
work and resources. In the meantime, while I search for helpful contacts, I plan to raise funds
by putting money aside from my craft sales, especially my Autism Awareness teddy Bears
and Traveling Dolls:
Ideally, since I live in Oshawa, I'd like the carousel to be right here in town, but anywhere
along the lake shore between Oshawa and Toronto would be okay.
Left: The magnificent Faust Park Dentzel carousel is housed in a building with a glass rotunda to display
it and the building also houses a beautiful gift shop and a spacious dining room for banquets and
receptions.
Right: The Greenville Cultural Arts Centre used to be an old school. Classrooms are now used as art
galleries and their colourful Armitage-Herschell track machine carousel is housed in what used to be the
school gymnasium. I photographed this view from up in the bleachers.
Below: The Conneaut Lake Carousel, a Muller frame with new carvings by the Carousel Works of
Mansfield, Ohio, is decorated with pictures of local landmarks, such as this old gas station: