Todd Ramquist and Kiaralinda

Todd Ramquist's family moved into Kiaralinda's neighborhood when they were 13 years old. They became really good friends in a 7th grade art class, and have been inseparable ever since. Kiaralinda has a degree in advertising and Todd in criminal justice. Fate, however, had a different route for these two individuals, who never would've dreamed how their life would change.

In 1985, they purchased the beige house on Third Street in Safety Harbor, Florida. They traveled everywhere, actively seeking out inspirational and unusual places. Inspired by these travels, they began transforming their house. One of the earliest additions were the wooden triangles to the eaves of their house. The beige house became bold in color, too.

One day, they went to a flea market and saw a sign that said that anybody could take 10 free bowling balls. They took the bowling balls and began painting and placing them around the property. This is how they became known as the bowling ball house of Safety Harbor.

Todd and Kiaralinda even branched out of decorating their home, creating two different art cars, designed a restaurant, and making public sculptures, among other things. They began calling themselves the Whimzey Twinz because they work together on all of their projects.

Their travels soon included visits to folk artists and artists that they met at their shows. These friends visited them, too. Todd and Kiaralinda’s bowling balls inspired many of them. They would create bowling balls for Todd and Kiaralinda, who got so many of these works from artist friends that they started a gallery in their home. They created a “Call for Balls” which made a lot more of these art worksroll into their home. Today, they have over 80 bowling balls from various artists around the world and people still bring them bowling balls as gifts.

Todd and Kiaralinda have always been encouraging their community to get involved in art making. One of their dreams is to create an arts and music center for their hometown of Safety Harbor. In 2012, with the assistance of a Pepsi Refresh Grant, this dream came to fruition: Safety Harbor Arts and Music Center is currently under construction.

Written by Katie Bush. Available for reuse as long as you drop us a line and let us know where it will be used!