City of Kingsport to unveil Carousel History Exhibit

Kingsport Cultural Arts is exploring many ways to celebrate the Kingsport Carousel’s 10th Birthday this year.

One noteworthy way has been through the creation of a history exhibit showcasing the story behind the development of this iconic downtown attraction.

The Kingsport Carousel History Exhibit is an interactive and education exhibit that will be on display in the second floor main gallery of the Kingsport Renaissance Center (1200 E. Center Street) beginning July 14 and running through August 15.

In addition, a special preview carousel history exhibit is currently on display in the first floor Circle Gallery at Kingsport’s City Hall (415 Broad Street) through July 3.

“Kingsport’s community of painters, carvers and designers came together to create a traditional carousel in our downtown and the iconic attraction still elicits a strong sense of community 10 years later.” said Cultural Arts intern Alyssa Lindsey.

The Kingsport Carousel opened its doors to the first riders in July 2015 and since then more than 500,000 riders of all ages have taken a spin on our carousel. Now the Kingsport Carousel serves as a beacon for residents and visitors alike. It’s often the first place that visitors go and is an anchor in the downtown area.

“The Carousel History Exhibit is a story of how dreams come true, success overcomes adversity and by sharing your talents you can be a part of great things,” said Bonnie Macdonald, retired Coordinator for Kingsport Cultural Arts.

The Kingsport Art Guild will have original paintings for display during the exhibit. Artists from the Plein Air Painting group have held special painting sessions several times this year to paint scenes related to the Kingsport Carousel. The public will be able to view and potentially purchase these original works of art.

The Carousel History exhibit will have interactive sections, as well as activities for younger visitors to contribute.