"Ferris"

by Diana DeMille

In celebration of the 100th year anniversary of the biggest Ferris Wheel in history - the brain child of George Washington Gale Ferris. Included in this piece is a brief history of the concept of the ferris wheel, plus portraits of Ferris' wife and of Gronau, the design engineer. The border is reminiscent of a carousel even though Ferris' Wheel was extremely ponderous with cars the size of railroad cars. Emphasis is placed on the axis Ferris created so the lights would not tangle and on the impressive height of 264 feet. Below, to scale, is today's ferris wheel next to the tallest skyscraper in Chicago in 1893. Won First Prize and Best of Show in the Arizona State Fair, 1993 36"x48" coloured pencil and black marker on masonite.

Note the monkey sitting on Ferris' head - an unintentional double symbol.  Years prior to creating this piece, I'd painted a monkey.  I adored that little creature and felt compelled to work him into this drawing.  During the long time I drew, I happened to read Vivian's Chinese Astrology book.  I kid you not, George Washington Gale Ferris was born under the sign of the Fire Monkey on February 14, 1859.  "Intelligent, imaginative, and full of vitality."

The Ferris Wheel was at the Chicago World's Colombian Exposition from May to October, 1893.  Design Engineer, William F. Gronau, stated, "The Ferris Wheel has 36 passenger cars ... Each car holds 60 people.  2,160 people can ride at the same time.  The Wheel is as tall as the Eiffel Tower. There are 3,000 electric lights."  The 8-story Chicago "skyscraper" was the tallest building at the time.  That little 40 foot high circle is today's Ferris.

Unnerved by her husband's obsession with the Wheel, Margaret Ann deserted Ferris 3 months before he died at age 37 on October 22, 1896.

Ferris was sold.  I miss him, but Ferris has an excellent home.  Now lives with a carousel horse in a lovely home by the Pacific Ocean.