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—rumored to have been powered by donkeys, lost somewhere between barns, corrals, and carnival routes. What is remembered is passed from voice to voice, changing slightly with each telling.

Certain dates remain grounded: rediscovered in 1937, restored by hand and paintbrush, and brought to back to life at the Taos Fiestas in 1939. Since then, artists have returned to it again and again, repainting its horses, drawing inspiration, renewing its presence. Tío Vivo endures not only as an object but as an evolving folk narrative—less about what can be proven, more about what continues to be believed. This exhibition is not a definitive account but a constellation of recollections, artifacts, and responses. A celebration of the way history spins.

Timeless Turns tells the story—at least, some of the many stories—of the carousel through historic photos and film, memorabilia, ephemera, and art created in the past and in modern times that features its beguiling image.