By Lenore Macdonald
¡Que Viva!
(Long Live Taos!)
On Saturday, June 7, 2025, the entire, multi-cultural, greater Taos community was invited to the Couse-Sharp Historic Site’s inaugural ¡Que Viva!, a biennial celebration of the past, present, and future of the Taos community. Over 700 Taoseños attended.
The gardens at the Couse-Sharp Historic Site. Photo courtesy of The Couse Foundation.
Through “Taos-centric” exhibitions and programs, the Couse-Sharp Historic Site (CSHS) shared and explored the community’s history while preserving and celebrating traditions, customs and artforms. ¡Que Viva! is a grito (a Spanish celebratory exclamation) meaning “Long Live”. ¡Que Viva! proclaims that the traditions of Northern New Mexico are here to stay.
CSHS, in the heart of the Taos historic district, pulled out all the stops.
Taos Pueblo’s Cisco Velarde, his son Josiah–who is on his way to becoming a top Native American dancer–and Jacob brought good wishes from the Pueblo. ©️NunaJade Photography
Face painters metamorphized this guest into a beautiful butterfly. Photo courtesy of Lenore Macdonald.
Popular Taos chanteuse Gabriella Salazar entertains the crowd. Photo courtesy of The Couse Foundation.
Children danced to music by NunaJade, Terecina Romero and Gina Rubi. Photo by Cindy Vilhauer.
The event was free of charge to all attendees. It featured children activities; live music; vintage automobiles; Taos Pueblo dancers; popular Taos musicians; artisan demonstrations by the famed, multi-generation Barela family santero woodcarvers; baby goats for petting and a burro-pulled antique cart selling heirloom beans; face painting; open house tours of the historic site’s home, studios and gardens; the Los Jardineros Garden Club of Taos teaching children how to pot flowers; a presentation by the Fiestas de Taos’ Royal Court; two art exhibitions; traditional New Mexican foods from some of the most popular places in town–Mante’s Chow Cart, Sabor Real Restaurant, Bombon’s red chile sauce, Taos Pueblo prune pies; and Taos Cow ice cream; and….
… the biggest attraction of all was the historic, circa 1800s, still operating Tío Vivo carousel, which was carved by local artisans. Their names are lost to history. As the exhibition materials explain, “The story of El Tío Vivo is stitched together from memory, music, and motion. For more than a century, this carousel has spun through northern New Mexico’s landscapes and imaginations. Its origins are uncertain (but certainly local) said to have been powered by donkeys… What is remembered is passed from voice to voice, changing slightly with each telling….Some say El Tío Vivo is one of the oldest operating carousels in the country.”
Taos’ historic and legendary Tío Vivo carousel at the Couse-Sharp Historic Site It was so popular that the Couse-Sharp Historic Site offered rides on during the event on June 7th, then offered rides again the next day, Sunday, June 8th, too. Photo courtesy of The Couse Foundation.
Children (and adults, too!) enjoy riding Taos’ historic Tío Vivo carousel at the Couse-Sharp Historic Site’s ¡Que Viva! celebration in June. Photo courtesy of The Couse Foundation.
Taos’ historic and colorful Tío Vivo carousel, loved by children of all ages. Photos courtesy of The Couse Foundation.
In addition to the extremely popular Tío Vivo carousel rides, which were offered over both Saturday and Sunday, CSHS held an art exhibition about the historic carousel, Timeless Turns: The Legacy of Tío Vivo, in its 1830s Luna Chapel, on until November 1, 2025.
Timeless Turns: The Legacy of Tío Vivo in the historic Luna Chapel at the Couse-Sharp Historic Site. Photo courtesy of The Couse Foundation.
One of the original photographs on display in Timeless Turns: The Legacy of Tío Vivo. Photo courtesy of Barbara Brenner.
Like Tío Vivo itself, according to the exhibition’s co-curators Lucas McDaniel and Jake Cisneros, “the stories turn in circles—repeating, shifting, and occasionally reappearing with new clarity. It’s here in Timeless Turns, in the interplay between memory and myth, that El Tío Vivo’s deeper meaning begins to take shape. The exhibition is not a definitive account—it is a constellation of recollections, artifacts, and responses. A celebration of the way all history spins.”
Tío Vivo has been part of Taos for a very long time. Photo courtesy of the Taos Historical Society.
It was especially moving to see our “ancianos” (elderly Taoseños and Taoseñas) view the exhibition as memories came flooding back to them and hearing their stories as they experienced the exhibition. Items were sourced throughout the community, with Taos Society of Artists founding member Oscar Berninghaus’ granddaughter, Barbara Brenner, contributing a Super-8 video of Tío Vivo, much to the delight of all.
Taos’ Tío Vivo stars in Ride the Pink Horse. Photo courtesy of Universal Studios and The Couse Foundation.
Also on display was a poster from the 1947 film noir, Ride the Pink Horse, starring Robert Mongomery, which was set in New Mexico and featured Taos’ Tío Vivo. According to the book, Film Noir: An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style, El Tío Vivo was the model for the carousel in the novel Ride the Pink Horse. The local rumor is that Tío Vivo should be in the Smithsonian Institution, but Taoseños cannot live without it—it is too much a part of the community and its history to let it go.
Everyone enjoyed the entertainment, tamales, enchiladas, prune pies, lemonade and ice cream. A guest waits for an ice cream cone from committee member NunaJade. Photo courtesy of Lenore Macdonald.
Dirk Hood and his burro, Winter, with his antique cart. Dirk also brought his Model-T to ¡Que Viva! vintage car show. Photo courtesy of The Couse Foundation.
Also on display was a poster from the 1947 film noir, Ride the Pink Horse, starring Robert Mongomery, which was set in New Mexico and featured Taos’ Tío Vivo. According to the book, Film Noir: An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style, El Tío Vivo was the model for the carousel in the novel Ride the Pink Horse. The local rumor is that Tío Vivo should be in the Smithsonian Institution, but Taoseños cannot live without it—it is too much a part of the community and its history to let it go.
The ¡Que Viva! Artes exhibition. Photo courtesy of Lenore Macdonald.
Everything was free of charge—including the incredibly popular El Tio Vivo carousel rides. Children were absolutely gleeful, some boys proudly exclaiming to me “I rode Tio Vivo 10 times and we are coming back tomorrow!”
Artist Jonathan Warm Day Coming’s family members, Gina, Carly and Calina, stand before his traditional Native American line drawing painting. Photo by Lenore Macdonald.
Sitting There by Mary Shaffer. Shaffer’s works are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC), Museum of Modern Art (Kyoto), The Smithsonian Art Museum and Renwick Gallery, Dayton Art Museum, among others. Image courtesy of the artist.
St. Kateri TeKaKwitha, Lady of the Mohawks by Lorrie Garcia. Garcia is the subject of a forthcoming retrospective at the Couse-Sharp Historic Site. Image courtesy of artist.
Antithesis by J. Chris Morel. Image courtesy of the artist.
Mountain and Clouds #6 by Dirk Herrman. Image courtesy of the artist.
An integral part of ¡Que Viva! Artes was its twelve-day invitational art exhibition, continuing Taos’ important multicultural artistic legacy. The ¡Que Viva Artes! exhibition brought together leading artists working in a variety of media, collectively telling a holistic story of Taos. Artists included internationally known artists like Larry Bell and Mary Shaffer; Spanish Market multi-award winners Andrew Garcia (carving and furniture) and Lorrie Garcia (santos); famed Native American potter Susan Folwell; Project Runway star and popular Native American (Taos Pueblo) fashion designer Patricia Michaels; celebrated santero Gustavo Victor Goler; famed painters like Walt Gonske, Dirk Herrman, Ann Huston, David A. Leffel, Sherri McGraw, Kevin Macphearson, J. Chris Morel, and Jonathan Warm Day Coming (Taos Pueblo). It really was an embarrassment of local riches as local artists were invited to submit work for the curated exhibition and sale in the Dean Porter Gallery and online to national collectors.
Taos’ strong culinary history was not forgotten, either. Over two weeks before the event, the Taos News’ popular food columnist, Lucy Herrman, explored northern New Mexican foodstuffs and culinary traditions in her In the Kitchen Column, providing recipes as well as historical and cultural background. (Links at the end of this article.)
Timeless Turns Co-Curator, Site Manager and Exhibitions Specialist Jake Cisneros with Committee Member and ¡Que Viva! Artes artist Ellen Harper. Photo courtesy of The Couse Foundation.
The event truly brought together the community and was planned by a diverse volunteer committee of Taoseños: Betty Brownlee, Carly Eva Gomez; Ellen Harper; Lucy Herrman; Catherine Jackson; Lenore Macdonald, Chairman; Jocelyn Martinez; Laurie Medley; Lauron Medley; NunaJade; Terecina Romero; Wayne Rutherford; Ryan Suazo; Charlene Tamayo; Contessa Trujillo; Marcia Winter; and Sherri Wood.
Los Jardineros Garden Club of Taos generously donated plants, pots and soil, and taught young guests how to plant a marigold. Photo courtesy of Lenore Macdonald.
¡Que Viva! was generously supported by the community with major funding from LOR Foundation, Nusenda Credit Union, Taos Ski Valley, Centinel Bank of Taos, 203 Fine Art, and Hotel Willa. In-kind donors included Taos News, Lions Club of Taos, Heidi Thorleifson Art/Acutetremonts Body Art, Taos Cow, Bombon, Arroyo Seco Live, Southern Exposure Photography, Mante’s Chow Cart, Sabor Real Restaurant, Taos Pueblo Tourism Department, Twirl, Youth Heartline, and Los Jardineros Garden Club of Taos. Many local businesses donated door prize items, including Ojo Caliente Resort and Spa; Ziggy’s Frozen Yogurt; Jonathan Warm Day Coming; medley.; Baskin-Robbins; Pizaños; Moxie Fair Trade & Handmade; 5 Star Burgers; Enchanted Florist; Op Cit Books; and Koko Café.
Los Jardineros Garden Club of Taos is a Taos treasure. Members Dr. Geilan Ismael, Linda Hone, Kathy Fortner and Lisa Pederson show us a sample potted marigold. Photo Courtesy of Lenore Macdonald.
¡Que Viva! is a biennial event. Next year, CSHS offers its always highly anticipated La Luz de Taos on June 5 and 6, 2026. Art afficionados and collectors descend upon Taos for two days of lectures, exhibitions, a juried art sale and exhibition featuring top Western and Southwestern artists, and a benefit party and auction.
And, of course, the 2027 ¡Que Viva! committee is already at work planning the 2027 event. It will be another “don’t miss”. The theme is under wraps for now, but you won’t be disappointed.
The baby goats were a huge hit with children of all ages.Nicole, Executive Director Davison Packard Koenig and Committee Chair Lenore Macdonald with their BFFs. Photo courtesy of Lenore Macdonald.
*Links to Lucy Herrman’s excellent articles about Northern New Mexico’s cuisines:
For more information, visit quevivataos.org and couse-sharp.org
© 2025 Lenore Macdonald. All rights reserved.
