Create a Space with Twirl
TWIRL IS WELL-KNOWN throughout the community for its magical toy store and colorful playgrounds, where families can play for free every day. But not everyone is as familiar with the extensive educational outreach programs the organization provides for kids in Taos. A toy store that gives back was at the heart of the original vision and 16 years on, founders Ed and Amy Jaramillo continue to support the nonprofit’s programs fostering play, creativity and imagination for kids in Taos.
Twirl is a toy store that gives back, providing all kinds of community benefits — a sentiment which was at the heart of the founding vision in 2007 and for the last 16 years. Founders Ed and Amy Jaramillo continue to support Twirl’s inspiring programs fostering play, creativity and imagination for kids in Taos.
Twirl’s now 7-year partnership with The Paseo is a shining example of that. Every year, Twirl transforms the courtyard into an immersive and interactive community art installation featuring art made by Taos kids and families in the months preceding the event.
Visitors can not only view works of creativity made by Taos kids, they are also invited to be a part of the artistic process right there and then! The project embodies Twirl’s core values in one installation — community, creativity, collaboration and play!
Create A Space, Twirl’s concept for this year’s outreach programming leading up to The Paseo, was a response to the ongoing emotional trauma of the pandemic. It was developed with the recognition that everyone needs a space to safely explore the feelings that have arisen in the last couple years.
Twirl created a multi-modality program incorporating Social Emotional Learning and STEAM concepts, during which K-5 students explored the play between their feelings and spaces they inhabit, and then created their own spaces using circuits, moving parts and upcycled materials. An adapted program for preschoolers involved use of loose parts to creatively express their feelings. Family engagement programs
were also offered allowing parents to join in the fun.
Twirl worked with 40 different schools and organizations, including elementary and preschool aged children. The project was brought to more than 1,000 kids and caregivers in Taos and surrounding communities. Most students received four sessions of the program, allowing a deep exploration of their feelings and the artistic process.
“The depth and breadth of this particular program was remarkable. It allowed us to tap into a rich vein of emotion and creativity in the community, providing a much-needed opportunity to process and express feelings resulting from the pandemic,” said Liana Bayles, a Twirl educator.
During the nights of The Paseo, Twirl showcased many of these artworks in their Create a Space installation along with video projections of many other creations. Kids came specifically to see their work on exhibit and were full of pride, joy and excitement.
The installation also invited festival goers to contribute their own creations at the ever-evolving Loose Parts Wall where kids and families could choose from a variety of materials and build their Feelings Spaces there and then! It was a magical night of cathartic creativity and lots of fun.
The program began in early spring and will continue throughout the winter, with plans to take it to both regional and national conferences. For more information, check out twirltaos.org/ paseo.
AT HOME WITH TWIRL and Friends