Kim Herder

Interior view of the Prospect Park Carousel

I chose to focus on the Prospect Park carousel and the restoration process undertaken by the community. After learning more about the history of this local space, I was drawn to its meaning within the park as a whole. The ornate decorations on a carousel and the mechanical nature of the structure draw visitors, young and old, to the space. The energy of a carousel ride creates a unique experience that enables the rider to forget the world and any worries for those few short minutes and enjoy the lights, music and movement of each horse, feeling the breeze as they spin around, in essence, creating a sense of mindfulness. Many carousels were originally built and hand-carved in Brooklyn. I want to bring back this meaning to the community, portraying the shared experiences. I seek to fulfill my vision of bringing together the community to regain a sense of peacefulness, when nothing was wrong, when life seemed to be simple, and the act of riding a carousel or watching its movement was enchanting.