Fashion Adventure: Pinata Party!
Artists&Fleas is a small warehouse market in Williamsburg, Brooklyn held on Saturdays and Sundays as a place for local artists, designers, jewelry makers, and merchants to sell their stuff. Stephen Franco can be found there every weekend with his incredibly creative products…
MONSTER LOVE PINATAS!
Stephen Franco and his monsters.
ME: How long have you been making Monster Love piñatas?
SF: I started making the cards first, about 3 years ago, and the characters from those evolved into piñatas about two months ago. I’ve always done artistic things, so I knew how to paper mache, and piñatas just came as an idea like, “in theory, this should work…” And I’m Mexican, so they’re completely authentic!
ME: What are they made out of?
SF: Scrap cardboard and McDonalds boxes I find on the streets of Harlem where I live.
ME: What types of people buy your piñatas?
SF: All types, mostly really sweet people who feel guilty about destroying them. But kids are my favorite customers because they have the most genuine reactions. You can really tell if they like the piñata or not.
ME: How long do they take you to make?
SF: A big one, about 10 hours.
ME: And minutes to destroy them! Do you name them all?
SF: Nah, I let the customers name them. Like the other week, I had someone buy a heart piñata and they asked what’s name was. I told them they should name it, so they named him Harold!
Check out monsterlovecards.com to see Stephen’s art or buy his cards. Soon he’ll be selling his piñatas online, too, so start planning the fiesta!
