Dreamsweel
Chipboard, Acrylic Paint, Wooden Dowels, wire, rhinestones, chain, glue, felt, cardboard
16” x 14” x 6”
Artist statement:
Drawing inspiration from the creation of the Carousel, Dreamsweel represents the luxurious merry-go-rounds of the late 19th century and early 20th century. The carousel was featured in many amusement parks when they started to gain popularity in the 19th and 20th century. They featured hand painted wooden horses, often operated by manpower or a wheeling device. In some cases, real horses were used that were chained to poles. In amusement parks in the early 20th century, many rides featured gold and jewels, and this stood as a sign of luxury, privilege, and wealth. My goal in the piece was to show motion but to also exaggerate the idea of luxury in the carouse. In highlighting the expense of the horses on the carousel, I wanted to represent how it was a privilege in the 19th and 20th century to be able to ride one of them. A lot of children back then were unable to attend amusement parks because their families could not afford it. Thus, I tried to draw attention to the gold in the piece, to show how adults aim to make money off amusement parks, while children may not care for the profit or how the horse is “luxurious”—they only care about the ride. The colors and details in the piece aim to match the aesthetics that adults want for the horses, while the horses in the back represent how the children view the horses. I attempted to resemble this idea but putting three blank horses in the back, without gold or detailing, to show how this idea is hidden and covered up by the “luxurious” horses.
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