The Kingsport Carousel Project

Gale Joh researched carousel projects and talked to groups about the idea.  He inspired Reggie Martin with his concept of a Kingsport Carousel and in turn Milton Nelson, George Gibson and Ted Heilig got excited about the possibility.  In 2010 Reggie, Milton, George and Ted went to the Bud Ellis carving school to learn to carve and earned the nickname The Four Horsemen.  Gale passed away that year but the Horsemen carried on his dream.       

Reggie and his team inspired others and taught them how to carve and now after five years 32 animals, two chariots, 24 rounding boards, 24 sweep animals, and 24 bird paintings have been created by over 300 volunteers spending 60,000+ hours of their time. Five (and counting) of these animals were carved by Gale's wife Valerie.  

Though the animals were being created they still needed a home.  The Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport CT had replaced their carousel frame several years ago and had put their old frame in storage.  The zoo found out about the Carousel Project and decided to donate their frame to Kingsport.  Interestingly the frame was made by the same company, Herschell, that made the carousels Gale Joh rode as a boy. While the carving and painting were taking place another team was refurbishing the frame.

In 2011, just as the Carousel Project began to gain real momentum, Engage Kingsport Inc., a 501 (c)3 non-profit community organization was established by a group of local residents who cared deeply about arts and culture in Kingsport. These two groups merged as it was decided that Engage Kingsport would take on the Carousel Project as its first big project.
  

Funds were raised from Individuals and businesses by their sponsorship of the animals and paintings.  Pal and Sharon Barger made a large donation to fund the building of a Roundhouse for the Carousel. 

The construction of the building began last fall and will be complete in March.  The animals will make their way there from The Flying Pig Gallery and Studios in time for Engage Kingsport's third annual Carousel Fine Craft Show which runs from March 21 - 23. The show will kick off with the Friday evening Brass Ring Gala and celebration.

Reggie Martin and his team will then construct the carousel frame within the roundhouse and make the final preparations for the first carousel riders. 

Here are a few images from this amazing project:

The animals all began as basswood boards.

 Concepts were designed

Wood cut and glued into shapes

 Carving tools gathered

 The designs then came alive

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Valerie Joh carving a unicorn 

 Her completed unicorn - Morning Glory

 Reggie carving Nellie

 Nellie ready to ride

 Suzanne Justice (lead animal painting artist) and one of her teams

Oh, and one of the animals Valerie carved was a Flying Pig who will fly over the ticket booth.

Pickles the Flying Pig watching Joe Pilkenton carve a horse in front of The Flying Pig Gallery and Studios 

To read the story of the Carousel Project click here.

To join the Race to the Finish Kickstarter campaign click here.