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It was Wednesday, February 7, the night before I was to leave on my annual pilgrimage to Key West, and I was talking on the phone with the person who would feed the cats and take in the mail while we were away. The door bell rang, and I sprang to my feet to greet our friendly UPS driver, who was delivering the theme item for round 2 of Battlefield:Glass. Now, at least I would be able to see and touch the theme item and imagine what I might do with it, even though I wouldn't be able to actually begin to construct my project for another two weeks.

By the time I returned home from vacation, the vision of my "Key West Carousel" was pretty much set in my mind. I would construct four symmetrically balanced buttresses, from which four tropical fishes-rather than the typical carousel's horsies-would be suspended.

The buttresses would consist of a copper-coated steel (Strongline) framework, held together by agates, glass nuggets and globs, and seashells (and solder). The color scheme would be based on the theme colors of Key West-the aqua of the sea and sky and the amber/coral/orange of the sun and the reef. And, rather than making them solid panels, the buttresses would include open-air spaces around the aforementioned components, incorporating another significant aspect of the subtropical climate of "Cayo Hueso" (the Spanish name for Key West), where year-round moderate temperatures and a lack of flying insects allow homes and businesses to be open to the outdoors air.

The fishes include the same colors, so familiar to the island they swim around. Each fish is different, but they glide together in harmony. Using the Battlefield:Glass theme item of the wooden pedestal and tubular brass rod, the carousel actually does rotate, with the help of a human hand and the fact that the weight of the four "units" has been carefully balanced. The brassy hue does not complement the Key West color scheme, so I covered the rod with copper foil and solder. And all of the solder in the project was lightly daubed with a copper patina-just enough to dull the bright silver color, but not enough to create an equally shiny copper color.

The overall feel of the completed project, I would say, borders on being gaudy. But that is intentional. Being perhaps overly ornate, at least to a more urban eye, is characteristic both of carousels and of Key West. I've often thought, while walking the streets of my favorite island, that I'd like to paint my house back home the way folks do theirs in Key West. But, back on Washington Street in Charleston, the island-style décor would stand out like someone's thumb that had been pierced by a stray shard of glass (a sore one). In Key West it doesn't matter. It's hard for anything to appear ostentatious or eccentric there; it all blends in.

       
       
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A lot of thought went into this construction! I love birds, and an ostrich popped into my head when someone suggested a carousel animal. Materials include: beautiful glass (of course), 1/2" copper pipe or tubing (OD - ID only your plumber knows for sure) find the lav supplies, and win a prize! I also used copper mesh material, and added a wooden bottom to the base for weight, adding glass and nuggets to it also. It was topped off by a wonderful marble from Warner-Criv. Anything but Oscar, the award winning subject from high school days, is a litho hanging in my living room.

I can't wait to see the other entries, anything was possible with this combo.