NEDERLAND — For anyone craving a little more joy and art in their world, the Carousel of Happiness prides itself on being more than an amusement ride. It’s also a living, breathing interactive gallery space featuring a menagerie of hand-carved animals by self-taught artist Scott Harrison.
As a young Marine in Vietnam, Scott had received a tiny music box that he held to his ear to distract him from the horror of the war going on around him. The music, Chopin’s “Tristesse,” brought him a peaceful image of a carousel in a mountain meadow.
After rescuing the abandoned Looff carousel in Utah, he spent the next 26 years hand-carving animals to bring it back to life.
Each animal is carved with an extraordinary attention to detail and expression, transforming a 1910 Charles Looff carousel frame into a rotating exhibition of folk art. The building housing the carousel functions exactly like a curated museum, designed to immerse you in vibrant light and color.
Guests are encouraged to look up or out from the upstairs viewing area to see hand-painted murals and panels by August Wolfinger, V. Vladmir, and Dorothy Emerling that capture the spirit of the Rocky Mountains.
Bathed in warm natural light, intricate stained-glass windows by artist and healer Cypress Willett frame the space, bathing the viewer in a warm kaleidoscope glow.
In addition, tucked into the space is the Story Catcher Booth, serving as an interactive living archive. It is a reflective space to share personal stories, memories, or interviews; an opportunity to document personal history, leaving with an audio footprint on a USB.
But amusement for the body and mind isn’t all there is to experience at the Carousel of Happiness. A walk up the stairs within the carousel overlook reveals a communal puppet theater for those feeling imaginative and playful.
All in all, the Carousel of Happiness is an interactive art experience to be enjoyed by all ages, and shared for generations to come.
Showcasing the work of more than five artists, including sculptures, paintings, and stained glass, the carousel is also a performative art immersion.
During the studio tour, the carousel will be hosting a Picnic Bench Collective Painting Project, weather permitting.
The Carousel of Happiness is at 20 Lakeview Drive, Nederland, CO 80466. You can call them at 303-258-3457 or visit carouselofhappiness.org/ to learn more. You can find them on Facebook at facebook.com/carouselofhappiness or on Instagram at instagram.com/carouselofhappiness.
