After a two week break, I returned to the Berkshire Carousel yesterday. I like to see quick progress, and expected to see a big change. I wondered if Malinda was ready for the paint shop, or Missy had been painted and was on display in the window. I looked for Magic to be ready for showing and a beautifully carved head for Rusty.
I guess I live in a dreamworld where things happen quickly; sometimes within twenty seconds, an entire life changing event happens. Such is not the case at the Carousel. Progress is made in small increments; hardly ever quickly; always carefully. Speed is not a virtue, but rather a hazard, which can cause problems like "do overs", thereby wasting hours of time. It happens.
But the horses were making progress towards completion. Rusty's head was being meticulously carved by Phil. I witnessed several conversations about the correct procedure for carving the ears and the floral trappings around the mane, and Phil consulting with fellow carvers to assure that the lines were accurate. Rusty's elaborate tail decorations were also a big topic, but that could not be immediately resolved. Carving by collaboration and consensus takes time.
Malinda's head that Becky has been working on received her eyes yesterday. Jim guided Becky through the process of mixing the epoxy filler that would bind the eyes in the carved sockets. It was a messy, sticky procedure, and I am pretty sure that Jim did not swallow any of the epoxy, despite the fact that he had to lick his fingers as he moved the eye into position. The eyes make the head come alive, and it was a great step forward.
Missy continues to be prepped for painting, and Magic continues to be sanded. Magic will probably be on display at a fundraiser at Macy's in a couple of months... "the magic of Macy's"
I worked on Rusty's body most of the day, and had a great talk with Rusty's sponsor, a neat elderly man who is honoring his wife with the sponsorship. Rusty was a horse on her farm back in Texas during the day.
So, during that two weeks, I did miss something. I also came to understand the value of careful attention to tasks. Details are important. Progress on the carousel is not measured by quantity, but by care and quality. The impossible is possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment