The Brass Ring Carousel:
The city of Albany, Oregon is building a carousel that will include a total of 52 carved animals divided into three rings. The animals in the outer ring are called "standers" - they don't move up and down. The animals in the middle and inner ring will move up and down. They are called "jumpers."
This is going to be a very large carousel, much larger than the Salem, Oregon carousel.
Last January, 2008, we (Dick and Nancy) decided to sponsor an animal for the Brass Ring Carousel. We selected the middle ring location. To celebrate our Scandinavian heritage, we chose a Lapland reindeer. We met with the carousel staff who wanted us to provide visual images and symbols to represent our family. We asked our grand daughter, Mariah, to choose a symbol she would like to include on the reindeer. She chose the red and white woven Danish heart.
Dick requested a gnome smoking a long pipe. The Danes call the gnome a Nisseman. Dick had a pipe from his grand father that he loaned the artist, Kurt Christensen, for reference. We researched reindeer bodies, harnesses and antlers. Both family names of our grandparents - Salovaara and Splidsboel will be carved on the harness. The Danish crest will be located on the Splidsboel side of the harness and the Finnish crest will be located on the Salovaara side of the harness.
The artist, Kurt, drew the reindeer based on our input. The artist's drawings are used extensively by the carvers as they work. In spring, 2008 we signed approval of the drawings. We were on our way.
Two Danish heart symbols can be seen at the lower edge of the harness in the left photo. In the photo above left, the drawing of the Nisseman can be seen. In the photo at right above, the Nisseman is shown as it will be located behind the reindeer's harness.
Hi Nancy...the carousel animals are gorgeous. So colorful and detailed. What a project. Is there a projected date of completion on this project? Let us know when we can see the completed reindeer. He will be gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteLuAnn Kessi
Hello Dick and Nancy,
ReplyDeleteI'm Bruce Austin, and I'm the carver working on Saami. I just discovered your blog and it's nice to hear the story behind your reindeer. My progress has been slow, since I work in Salem and am only able to carve on Wednesday evenings. Please don't be discouraged by the slow progress! I'm very excited about the project, especially since my partner, Sherilyn, is adopted and discovered she is part Norwegian. I plan to contact the reindeer farm in Redmond and ask if I can visit to take photos of specific reindeer angles and parts. Please trust that I will put much caring and attention to detail and respect for your story into Saami. I'd love to meet you sometime--I'm at the studio most Wed evenings by 6:30. Thanks,
Bruce