Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Preparing to Paint


My big, giant panels are here and they are almost too purty to paint! 
Giant cat for scale. 
Thank you to Jason Nash for building these beautiful 4x4' mounted panels.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Dr. Floyd L. Moreland's Carousel

Last week I wrote about my visit to the boardwalk in Seaside Heights New Jersey which was devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

Yesterday I read an article about the man responsible for the most recent restoration of the carousel, Dr. Floyd L. Moreland.  He lost his home, his carousel collection, shop inventory and 1000s of books (classics) in the storm. I was so moved by the article and accompanying video. I wanted to share it here:

"Man who saved Seaside carousel not sure if he'll stay in deserted Ortley Beach"
Read the full article from the Asbury Park Press here.
Click here to watch this video.

THANK YOU, Dr. Moreland for all you have done to save the carousel. It is so beautiful and I enjoyed my visit so much. I wish you the very best in your next chapter.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

One Last 'Round!

On day 8 we were scheduled to fly out of BOS (where we started) back home to MSP. Lucky for us our flight was delayed three times (!?) so we got an extra day to spend exploring.

I discovered there is a Carousel Restoration Expert right in the town of Hull so I swung by his shop for a visit. It was dark but I snapped a few pics through the window. Really sad that I didn't get to chat with him.


We walked around town:
A view from the hill- you can just barely see Boston in the distance.

Hmmm..."settled by the Puritans" is one way of putting it... At any rate- Hull is OLD!

Nantasket is Nantastic!

Hanging out in Boston with ol' snaggle tooth and ol' blue eyes.

Our flight followed the sunset home so this was my view for most of the ride. A beautiful site for reflecting. 

I am so excited to get back into the studio and MAKE SOME ART! 
More on that here very soon...stay tuned, won't you?

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Last Day of Carousel-ing...OR IS IT???

(In the voice of that one guy on Dateline.)

Day 7 of our trip included visits to two more carousels- the last ones on our agenda.
We hated to leave our amazing room at The Ocean Club on Smuggler's Beach in Yarmouth, MA.
(I've been saving up hotel credits for almost two years in anticipation of a free night- A splurge for Brad's birthday!)

I want to live in this little apartment overlooking the beach!

(Regarding the name of the hotel.)

Adorable neighborhood cat doing naughty cat things in a garden.

First stop was the carousel at Cape Cod Carousel and Funhouse Arcade in Hyannis, MA. This was the only carousel we visited that had all metal animals. It was also the newest of the "vintage" carousels we saw- built in 1957 by Allan Herchell.



LOL FunnyBunny- you're scaring the brown horse!




Where's Waldo?

Wonderful World, indeed.

The last carousel turned out to be one of my favorites! (I was asked to "Calm Down." Heeeeee!) The Paragon Carousel in Hull, MA has been in operation at Nantasket Beach for more than 80 years. Built in 1928 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Co. it is a "Grand Carousel" (it has four rows of animals.) It has 35 of the ORIGINAL paintings, 15 carved cherubs and ladies, and a Wurlitzer Band Organ. The Paragon Park amusement park of the early 1900s closed in 1984 and the carousel is the only ride that remains.

An old-timey view of the park. *sigh* via Wiki
The carousel house today.


I MEAN WOULD YOU JUST LOOK AT THIS?!?!

AMAZING!!!

If anyone needs to calm down it is the guy with the flag. What the?!

The Wurlitzer.

Two white horses pulling a chariot.

The colors on this carousel- I'm dying.

Cherubs, butterflies, lights- oh, my!

COLORS!




 That was the last stop so we had a toast on the beach. I swore I wouldn't say the word "carousel" for a good while.

Cheers to Brad! My hero rockstar traffic master!

Stay tuned to find out how long I went without blabbing about carousels. ;0)
Thank you for reading!

Monday, July 1, 2013

Rhode Island

Next stop: Rhode Island and the fancy little town of Watch Hill.
the marina

the "main drag"

carousel on the beach at the end of the street 


This is a small and funny carousel built in 1884- the oldest one we visited (!) - and all of the horses have crazylong, flowing, real hair manes and tails. They look like a gang of crusty old punk rockers and hippys- and I mean that in the best possible way. LOVED THEM!

pretty ol' hippy

rock-n-rollers

ol' speckled hen ;0)

This was also the only example of a "suspended" carousel that we visited. The horses are hanging/swinging and there is no platform below. Cool!


Next stop was the Atlantic Beach Park Carousel in Misquamicut Beach, MA. Carousel down by the beach:

and this surreal scene:
Move along, nothin' to see here. Just a man tryin' to enjoy his ice cream.

The doors were open but nobody was home so I made myself at home and started snapping a ton of photos. Then the proprietor arrived (not thrilled to see me in there) and flipped on the lights and music. I made a few more pics and decided it was time to mosey!

Fun to photograph the carousel without all those pesky children! (I'M KIDDING! Kinda. But seriously, folks...)

Lots of freaky carvings on the roundabout.

This carousel was built in 1915 and it's original location is unknown. Lots of mystery and history surrounding so many of these carousels.

carousel ettiquette


Sunday, June 30, 2013

Rebuilding

After staying in Atlantic City we were anxious to get on the road again.  Our next stop was the boardwalk in Seaside Heights New Jersey which was devastated by Hurricane Sandy.  There was lots of construction and repair going on all over the town. Here are some photos from what it looked like after the storm:

Boardwalk destroyed- via RidgewoodPatch

Now there is a brand new boardwalk and everything looks shiny and new.


And it IS a boardwalk so there was plenty of creepy and/or giant stuff:




The carousel- built in 1910!


...a special distinction.


lots of great animals




another freakshow!

Wow! Im really teally tired. I just spent a long time trying to remember where we went next:
OLD LYME, CT! A sleepy litte town with a funny ol' carousel. 

There is an OLD carousel around here somewhere!

This carousel is small and charming and...art deco-y- or something! Built in 1925.  Lots of kids were having a blast trying to "grab the brass ring." The more photos and videos I took the more I fell in love with this little gem.