BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

Second of Two Parts

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY JULY 6, 2016) — As the culmination of our coverage of the Berkshire Carousel, THE PLANET presents an exclusive: the definitive account from the creator himself, Jim Shulman:

——– 000 ——–

About 18 years ago my wife, Jackie, and I attended the Williams College graduation of our nephew. The commencement speaker was the late Christopher Reeve, who was in a wheel chair, speaking in between deep breaths. (He had been paralyzed from a horse-riding accident). His message to graduates was about having a strong base, a solid support system and how that is important throughout life. The message hit me as I realized what a great experience I had growing up in Pittsfield and the Berkshires after WWII. The community was my support base.

Growing up in Pittsfield in the 50s and 60s, none of our families had a lot of money. Our parents had experienced the Great Depression as well as the recent war. In a way we were all poor, but there were hardly any families that didn’t have at least one parent working, and everyone shared a sense of optimism. We were all rich in the love and support we got from our community. Yes we had great support in this community. We were safe and secure, we could walk or ride our bikes anywhere, never locked our doors, we had good schools, seven movie theaters, clubs, Scouts, day camps, parks, play grounds, parades, sports, beaches, a wonderful shopping area, buses that took us all over, a great library and museum, festivals and much more.  Yes, Pittsfield was unquestionably my base, my great support system. I loved growing up here.

As I listened to Christopher Reeve speak, I pictured how much my hometown had changed in the 35 years since I graduated Pittsfield High School. It was no longer the safe, prosperous city it had been. The North Street shopping district had been replaced by an out of town mall and nearby shopping centers. The major employer, GE, downsized and unemployment was at an all-time high. Crime and drug addiction were on the rise, with the jail and rehab centers becoming bigger. PCB pollution was all over the community. Worst of all, however, was the negativism and pessimism I never experienced as a kid. People were bad mouthing everything and not willing to do much about improving things.  Thinking about this, as new retiree, I felt I wanted to do something to help the town and the people who gave me the support base and the opportunities that opened doors to college and a career.

For several years, I thought about possibilities and talked with local residents about  potential projects. I saw the efforts to restore the decaying downtown theaters and introduce art to the City. These were admirable but costly and did not involve everyone in the community. I wanted to do something that could bring together workers and family members who were impacted by the loss of the GE, artists who were left out of the community’s art initiatives, and in general folks who were quick to criticize the community but clueless on how to improve it. I was also sensitive to a growing feeling that everything to improve the city was costing the taxpayers and the number of taxpayers was diminishing.

Twelve years ago on a trip back East from our Ohio home, we visited the New England Carousel Museum in Bristol, CT, and it hit us that we could initiate a community project that would meet the goal of bringing people together. There is something magical about a carousel, the movement, figures, art, colors and music. Jackie suggested we bring folks together to hand carve a carousel. It was a novel idea, but I was not a craftsman nor an artist and had no idea where to begin. The next year, I read every book and old publications on carousels that I could find, visited carousels and carousel makers, and finally took a basic five-day carving course. Five months later I finished carving a horse that I named Obie for O. B. Joyful.  I felt if I could do it, then people in the Berkshires could do the same.

I presented the project to over fifty people in the Berkshires including Pittsfield’s Mayor, a councilor, bankers, business leaders, artists, retirees, former GE workers, and more.  There was a lot of interest, but knowing that the museum, two theater restorations, and  a new cinema had been granted local economic stimulus funds, many said there would be no government funds and donors may be tapped out.  I made it clear we would not ask for city monies to build the carousel. I was also clear that we would need help in grant and foundation procurement and private donations to build or rehab a building to house the carousel. This would allow it to operate year round for its sustainability.

Encouraged, Jackie and I embarked on the project and funded its development, operations, and staffing. We purchased the land on Center Street  for the carousel building.  Although we felt positive about Pittsfield’s  leaders’ support and willingness to  help us succeed, it did not happen. This led to our being courted by other communities that graciously provided workshop space for low rents. We did not locate elsewhere due to unsuitable locations, high rents, or lack of funding to build or renovate a building. The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), which distributes discretionary funds for capital construction projects related to the arts, awarded the Berkshire Carousel, a non profit (501-c-3) organization, a matching grant for $250,000 for its building. (The grant would have gone to a project elsewhere in Massachusetts.) This was NOT for building the carousel that Jackie and I agreed to back. Incidentally, we never asked the City of Pittsfield for a penny. The State’s match was met privately. Also we never asked for a TIF for the land. We personally paid taxes on it for eight years, unsure of whether the carousel would be located there. The only other governmental monies the project is receiving is $25,000 from the state. We are thankful for this support and have kept true to our promise that we would not use governmental dollars for the creation of the carousel itself.

Doing the carousel totally as a grassroots project has taken twice as long as projected (11 years) and twice as much in costs ( approximately $1.5 million).  The land costs and the first phase building construction have cost nearly as much with private donations and some  in-kind construction services building on the MCC grant. The project has cost approximately $3 million over 11 years involving 400 volunteers. They have a great legacy and will make countless children and adults smile as they ride and appreciate the art created by those volunteers. And no, we will never make a penny from the project that has been a retirement gift.

People have asked us if we were excited during the opening. Yes, we were, but equally excited each time we visited the Berkshires and saw the great volunteers share their optimism as they created a small community to do something good for their larger Berkshire Community and for other communities to which they have donated their time and craft.

I understand there are residents (and a few readers of THE PLANET) who are cynical or negative about the Berkshire Carousel. This very pessimism and negativity is what inspired us to initiate this gift to the community. Although I cannot change perceptions, I only ask those folks how they personally can improve their community as opposed to continuously tearing it down.

I also know many believe the carousel is just an amusement ride. It is lastly about a ride. First it’s about the creation of a sub-community creating a legacy, giving back to the larger community. Second it is about art in a city defining itself as a cultural center. The carousel has 33 carved/sculpted figures (40 in toto) and at least 60 original paintings on it. The figures are modeled after the works of the 20 most famous carousel artists  in the US from 1880-1930, many who were already  known for the carvings of churches and synagogues. The Berkshire Carousel is said to be the first classical wooden carousel carved in Massachusetts in 100 years and the largest permanent art project ever  done in New England by volunteers.

As The Grateful Dead would say, it’s been a long strange trip — But a grateful one for me to give back to my base.

——– 000 ——–

 This tale has a happy ending. Let the carousel bring joy and smiles while official Pittsfield keeps going around in circles.

—————————————————————————————————

“Create around [yourself] at least a small circle where matters are arranged as [you] want them to be.” — Anna Freud.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views expressed in the comment section or opinions published within the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not those of PLANET VALENTI or endorsed in any way by PLANET VALENTI; this website reserves the right to remove any comment which violates its Rules of Conduct, and it is not liable for the consequences of any posted comment as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and PLANET VALENTI’s terms of service.