Young pueblo artists create high-sensory interactive art lab in Taos
The Aspen Song Kids Art Lab, which is located at 117 A Bent Street in Taos, utilizes light, color, and sound to tell stories. 'You got letters from the walls that start popping out at you and all of the, the different scenes that the kids drew in the mural, they start coming to life,' shared Tarynce Hise, Director of the Aspen Song Kids.
Hise says that the art exhibit is a creative way to teach the kids about the generational hardships their ancestors endured, while simultaneously preserving their culture. 'So we have what's called image journaling and basically the kids drew these stories of our people's history of the Pueblo revolts of the revolt against Governor Ben of 1847,' emphasized Hise.
Taos animal shelter closes indefinitely, amid funding and operational challenges
The lab is intended to be a mutually educational experience, allowing the kids and gets to dive into history first-hand. 'Instead of just handing them a pamphlet and say, 'Here, read this,' we get to actually talk to them and the kids get to tell the stories of the history,' continued Hise.
The lab pays tribute to the Indigenous practice of using caves to tell stories. 'A long, a long time ago, our ancestors would find these caves and they would tell stories on the walls…So, walking into the art lab is similar to like walking into a hidden cave that tells stories,' said Hise.
Hise says that their mission is to create a safe space to empower one another and overcome generational trauma as a community. 'Indigenous youth have a voice and their voice is powerful and they can change the world,' he says.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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