On October 11, 2024, Therapicasso tabled at Ynez Elementary School’s annual Fall Festival. Centered around a Halloween and Dia de los Muertos theme, the event featured an altar honoring students' loved ones who've passed away, festive games, and activities for individuals of all ages.

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Therapicasso’s booth was divided into two immersive sides that fostered a healthy balance of lighthearted conversation and meaningful reflection. The right side featured a bean bag toss where festival-goers could win fun prizes such as candy, stickers, and lanyards if they managed to sink all three bean bags into the target. The playful competition and joy at this station created an upbeat energy that attracted visitors to the booth. 

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The left side of their table featured a postcard-making station–a creative and heartfelt experience that welcomed participants of all ages. Attendees were invited to reflect on a loved one or emotion that they felt moved to explore–gratitude, grief, anxiety, and more. The blank side of each postcard allowed individuals to illustrate a visual representation of their feelings or memories, while the lined side was a space for them to write a short letter to their chosen person or emotion. The activity encouraged self-expression through a variety of mediums, reinforcing the central idea that reflection can occur in ways unique to each individual. 

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The festival’s overarching themes of remembrance and celebration fostered a powerful backdrop for this simple, yet profound activity. Many participants took the opportunity to write messages to loved ones who appeared on the school’s altar–honoring their memory in both words and images. Others wrote to emotions they had been holding on to, giving themselves space to reflect on them and begin to let them go. The photo on the right showcases one of the postcards written by a student, which reads, “Thank you for always protecting me and taking care of me!”. This, along with the other profound messages displayed on the altar demonstrated the power that words can have in communication between caregivers and students. Throughout the evening, this station offered a safe space for meaningful emotional connection.

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Therapicasso’s table at the Fall Festival served as a place where visitors could play, celebrate, remember, and reflect all at once. It was a moving reminder of the way creativity can help us process our emotions and keep the memories of our loved ones close–an experience that left participants with a renewed sense of understanding as they continued to enjoy the cultural richness and joyful energy that flowed throughout the event. 

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