This is a Los Angeles based project lead by artist Jamie Molaro and co-conspirator Ian Reasor. We’re lucky to have met an incredible (and growing) group of artists eager to help make this dream a reality!
I am a planetary scientist and a visual artist. Most of my art explores science in some way, incorporating scientific ideas and data into its making, and giving me a perspective on the solar system my academic research doesn’t offer. It also allows me to share its wonder with others, helping people to connect to and engage with science on their own terms and outside of a classroom. For this project, I wanted to explore the cosmos through a cultural lens, not just the way we see the stars today but how we have imagined them throughout time.
In a way, the study of space science is our modern creation story, but I’ve also always had a passion for myth, folklore, and ancient history as a way to explore human place in the universe. Here we bring both ancient and modern cosmology together, a reflection of our timeless love of the skies. Like a myth, the carousel is an object which brings our past to the present in an uncomplicated way– something nostalgic, the memories of which we love and universally relate to. Something with cultural context, but which we enjoy without overthinking. An escape to a fantasy world of our own making. And, being such an important part of human history, there is no shortage of stories about magical horses from around the world. I like to think it’s their magic that we capture in the joy of riding this carousel—a pure and simple delight.
While we have big dreams for this little carousel beyond the desert, the other part of its origin story is our experience at the Burning Man art festival which we’ve attended since 2006. Anyone who has been to Burning Man can tell you what an unimaginably imaginative place it is– a blank slate where people come together to build art and community just for the sake of sharing with each other. A place where we go to create, play, and express ourselves. Every year we’re out there I think about how it’s the kind of whimsical place where you just expect there should be a carousel, and yet we’ve never seen one. And every year I think, wouldn’t it be cool if we could bring one? And this year I thought…wait, could I?
In the long term, I see the carousel installed in an art space in Los Angeles- part gallery, part maker space, part community center- devoted to bringing science and art together through exhibitions, workshops on science-driven art, and community events. But that’s a ways off– for now, I’ll just focus on getting the carousel to BRC and back 🙂
Bluesky/X: @spacejammie, IG: @dataarcana
skyhorsecarousel@gmail.com
Collaborating Artists
Jamie Molaro – Art Director & Project Lead
Ian Reasor – Build Lead
Jane Szabo – Paint Lead: color, scenery & detail work
Jim McAninch – Paint Lead: priming & glossing
Aiva Ievins
Becky Bell
Brandon Pearce
Catie Roads
Desiree Reusch
Ellie Anhalt
Gavin Brown
Holly Martin
Ilka Mascelli
Irena Li
James Baker
Jen Scully
Jody Bender
Joseph Chan
Judith Nielsen
Karen Tang
Kyle Robinson
Lauren Robinson
Macy McKenny
Mello Monroe
Rick Tennant
Roxy Might
Sabrina Tom
Safiye Kucuktepe
Sam Lirones
Sarah Bradford
Shawn Benjamin
Shiori N
Sid Deshpande
Steve Vance
Tamanna Shah
Tim Francisco
Tina Tholke
Valentine Garcia
Skyhorse Carousel 