Kochanski creates the Adirondack Carousel’s hermit thrush
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SARANAC LAKE - Patrons of Greens and Beans in Saranac Lake were buzzing Saturday in anticipation of Tracy Kochanski's arrival from Westfield, Mass. with her hand-carved hermit thrush for the Adirondack Carousel.
Kochanski unveiled the bird at a special ceremony recognizing her time and craftsmanship. More than 75 community members, the Adirondack Carousel board and the executive director came out to enjoy ice cream sundaes and to see the newest carousel addition.
"We're so happy to see such a large turn out for this event," Kochanski and her husband said. "We're proud to be part of this organization."
The Kochanski's enthusiastically handed over the 100-pound wood hermit thrush to the carousel for children to enjoy in the coming years.
"Tracy cannot be commended enough for her time, hard work and dedication to our project," Dylan Rodrigues, Adirondack Carousel executive director, said.
The couple was escorted around the village of Saranac Lake to see some of the other finished animals and enjoyed an afternoon in the Adirondacks.
Kochanski was recently appointed art director of the Berkshire Carousel, currently under construction in Pittsfield, Mass. Her work has been shown at the New England Carousel Museum in Bristol, Conn. and has been featured in several publications including the New England Antiques Journal and the Carousel News and Trader.
The Adirondack Carousel project has been in the works for the past few years. Volunteer carvers locally and from around the nation have generously donated their time and hard work to deliver the final carousel figures. Most of the figures will be completed this summer and showcased at various events this summer and fall.
For more information on the Adirondack Carousel, call 891-9521.
