CAROUSEL HISTORY AND RESTORATION
Jane's Carousel was created in 1922, the heyday of the American Carousel, by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (P.T.C.). Designated as P.T.C. No. 61, it was originally installed in Idora Park in Youngstown, Ohio, then a prosperous steel-making city. The Carousel has been fully restored back to it's original elegance.
In 1983, as the designated developer of Empire Fulton Ferry State Park, David Walentas had commissioned a Master Plan for the park that called for an historic carousel to be installed. Jane and David Walentas purchased the Carousel at auction on October 21, 1984. Their bid for the entire Carousel prevented it from being sold off piecemeal.
When purchased, the Carousel was in poor condition. Jane Walentas began its restoration at her studio here in Dumbo in 1984. Her initial tasks included making necessary carpentry repairs and hand-scraping away 62 years of "Park Paint" with an X-acto knife to reveal the original 1922 carvings, color palette, and designs. The discoveries were carefully recorded with photographs, color matches, and detailed drawings that guided the repainting of the Carousel. The horses were rendered in faithful detail. The highly decorative carved trappings were newly painted and re-leafed. Missing embellishments such as faceted jewels, small beveled mirrors on the bridles, and delicate pinstriping were restored.
The Carousel's rounding boards, scenery panels and structural pieces were also repainted, stenciled, and re-leafed. Blackened varnish was removed from original paintings to reveal their true colors. Dozens of old beveled mirrors were reglazed. Mechanical systems were updated with new gears, motor and an electronic controller. Totally rewired, the Carousel now dazzles with 1200 brilliant lights.
Jane's Carousel is being installed in Brooklyn Bridge Park in the Jean Nouvel designed Pavilion, and will open to the public September 16, 2011.
ABOUT JANE
Jane Walentas is an artist who lives in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn with her husband David, who was the original developer of the area. They have one grown son.
Jane, originally from Teaneck, NJ graduated from Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia with a BFA in Advertising Design and years later received a MFA in Printmaking from NYU. After graduating from college, she worked briefly for Testa Publicita, an advertising agency in Torino, Italy. Upon returning to the States, she moved to New York and worked as an Art Director for many years mostly in the Cosmetic Industry for Avon and Estee Lauder.
Jane and her husband also own and operate Two Trees Stables, an equestrian and polo facility in Bridgehampton, NY.