Chariot 1 - Swan's Way
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Carvers: Robert Onishenko, Bonnie Haroldson,
Stephanie Hassard, Ray Parent, Rollie Preston, Don Reimer
Painters: Karen Anderson, Marilynn Carley, Fran
Fahlman & Barb Levers
Size: 4' high x 8' long
Status: painting
Sponsor: available
In addition to the animals on a carousel, chariots, sometimes called sleighs, were provided for those who didn't want to climb up on a lively steed. The sides of the chariots provided carvers with large expanses of wood to decorate, inspiring them to extravagant ornamentation that often depicted a vignette. Whatever the carver saw in the wood he carved and embellished lavishly, often with dragons, cupids, lovers, swans or figures from history and mythology (1). PTC (Philadelphia Toboggan Company) carvers frequently incorporated cherubs, birds, flowers and water as part of their imaginary scene.
The designer of our chariot, Sharon Abbott, has been inspired by a chariot that is aboard PTC 47 at Hershey Park, Pennsylvania. On our chariot, a gilded swan pulls a sea shell vessel, with a cherub driving the swan by means of red ribbon reins. The ribbon is loose and dancing in the waves. Two fish are entranced with the goings on and swim along, accompanying the travelers.
The back of the chariot has carved trim accompanied by a traditional painting of a pastoral scene. Since our carousel depicts images of both Alberta and Edmonton history, the oval picture on the back of the chariot shows Morraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, located near Lake Louise.
As with the horses, the romance side of a chariot faces outward on the carousel. It is more intricately carved and jewelled than the inner side which, in our case, is painted rather than carved.
The Foundation is indeed fortunate to have Robert Onishenko, skilled in relief work, to direct the carving crews working on the chariots. A carving crew is brilliantly executing the exquisite details in our very classic chariot. To aid them in their work, Alberta Job Corps. has produced a custom-designed table that allows several carvers to work at one time on the huge slab that is the chariot's romance side.