Flying Ponies (Euclid Beach Park)

1932

Flying Ponies (Euclid Beach Park), 1932. Carl Gaertner (American, 1898–1952). Oil on canvas; unframed: 113 x 169.5 cm (44 1/2 x 66 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Carol and Michael Sherwin 2020.243 © Carl Gaertner Among Gaertner’s most admired canvases, Flying Ponies (Euclid Beach Park) presents a nocturnal view of a beloved carousel that was installed at a now defunct amusement park on the shores of Lake Erie. This ride—featuring suspended horses swirling over a dramatically tilted platform—provides the central focus. Its illumination helps bathe the surrounding darkness, revealing visitors engaged in various activities. The arched entrance gate to Euclid Beach Park still stands and is a designated Cleveland landmark.