WORKSHOPS BEYOND FALLAS (II). CARRIAGES
Undoubtedly, the main protagonist of the workshops in the Ciutat de l’Artista Faller is the falla itself, but another outstanding activity carried out in these bays are the carriages and floats used in parades.
Carnivals, Epiphany parades with the Three Kings, patron saint festivities and High Feasts, Flower Battle parades, fairs and other festivities in the Valencia Region, other parts of Spain (Gijón, Bilbao, Zaragoza) and abroad (Estoril, Seattle, New Orleans) have all been outfitted with carriages created in the Ciutat de l’Artista Faller. In fact, some workshops actually specialise in carriage bodywork production, such as those pertaining to Roda, Salvador Guaita, Pasqual Gimeno, Alfredo Demets, the Sánchez brothers, Ángel Azpeitia and his son José Ángel, Enrique Burriel, Carrero, etc.
The construction process for carriages and floats is similar to that of the fallas. It is based on an idea expressed in sketch form or an initial design. After this, the figures and decorative elements are modelled, either using traditional techniques such as casting in papier-mâché, or sculpting in expanded polystyrene or white cork, apart from the creation of complements in carpentry. Inside, the carriages have metal structures coupled to the platforms that hold the upper sections of the float.
