I don’t consider myself an artist, but I continue to try my hand at various artistic endeavors in the hopes that one will finally stick. I am steadfast in my belief that an artist exists somewhere inside of me. Todd Ramquist and Kiaralinda also believe that an artist resides in everybody, and their Safety Harbor home, which they lovingly call Whimzeyland, is a testament to that belief.
Located in an otherwise “normal” neighborhood on 3rd Street North, Whimzeyland exudes so much positive energy that it almost feels like a living, breathing being. The grounds are filled with otherworldly sculptures, windcatchers and the artists’ signature Whimzey Wire creations.
A visitor could seemingly spend a lifetime admiring all that Whimzeyland has to offer.
When Ramquist and Kiaralinda purchased the plain beige home in the mid-1980s, there was nothing unique about it. One of the first things that Kiaralinda wanted to do was paint the front door purple. Ramquist initially said no, but Kiaralinda won him over. That was merely the first step in a decades-long creative journey.
The two artists initially didn’t have much money to spend on home improvements, so they improvised artistically. They encountered a man at a flea market who was giving away a truckload of bowling balls. He said he would give 10 balls to every person who wanted some. Ramquist took 10; Kiaralinda took 10; and they asked all their friends and neighbors to pick up an additional 10 balls.
They painted and repurposed them in a number of ways, from creating pyramids to edging landscaping, and everything in between. Whimzeyland eventually became known as “The Bowling Ball House of Safety Harbor.” Over the years, fans and friends have continued to donate balls to Ramquist and Kiaralinda, and today there are more than 2,000 bowling balls on the property.
Ramquist and Kiaralinda are committed to reusing everyday items in their creations, and tour guide Laurel Peterson told me that she enjoys asking visitors to identify what the sculptures and mosaics at Whimzeyland used to be. There are trees made of glass bottles, adorned with flowers whose petals are crafted from plastic water bottles. Tin cans are strung together to form garlands. Vintage teacups are hung at varying heights to make a one-of-a-kind chandelier, and birdhouses are transformed into fine art pieces.
Kiaralinda is an accomplished mosaic artist, and she has used oyster shells, costume jewelry and discarded ceramics to create some of her stunning work. Any object on the property with a price tag is for sale, shared Peterson, and visitors come from all over the world to experience Whimzeyland.
The Whimzey Twinz, as they call themselves, started holding concerts at their home to build community and bring their neighbors together. They attended many music festivals and met performing artists who often sought out smaller, more intimate venues in between larger gigs. For many of these artists, Whimzeyland was the ideal place to connect with music fans.
Before too long, audiences had outgrown the eclectic performance space at Whimzeyland. Ramquist and Kiaralinda longed to create a haven for visual and performing artists in Safety Harbor but lacked the funds. They entered a competition sponsored by Pepsi in the early 2010s that involved collecting bottle caps. Once again, they turned to their friends and neighbors for support and won a $50,000 grant which provided the seed money for the Safety Harbor Arts and Music Center on 2nd Street North. 
The nonprofit SHAMc, as it’s known, opened in 2017 and is as colorful and imaginative as Whimzeyland. As visitors approach the building, they’re welcomed by Ellie the Elephant, a life-size sculpture that is currently being repaired following recent storms.
Almost 300 local volunteers helped create the mirror mosaics on the center’s exterior, and SHAMc is committed to returning the favor by offering classes for aspiring artists of all ages. Four- to six-year-olds can enroll in the recurring Artstart classes, while older children can experience social justice workshops and resin art and tie dye classes. Adults can explore the worlds of ceramics, mosaics, and whimsical self-portraits, among other things.
Several students who have taken classes at SHAMc are now selling their wares at The Artery, “a unique boutique” located at the center. The Whimzey Twinz believe in the power of art to build community, and SHAMc is a tangible representation of that power.
The music venue that Ramquist and Kiaralinda imagined has become a reality at SHAMc. It seats approximately 130 and introduces concertgoers to a wide spectrum of performers. In February and March alone, nine shows are scheduled.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
- Contact Laurel Peterson at 541-556-2760 to schedule a tour of Whimzeyland and SHAMc. Tours cost $25 per person.
- Visit safetyharborartandmusiccenter.com to register for classes, purchase concert tickets, or get more information about SHAMc. Visit kiaralinda.com for all things Whimzeyland-related.
- The Whimzey Twinz also operate two guesthouses: Casa Loco and Shamwowzey, which can be found at Airbnb.com.
