Video by Jordan Frakes
The amount of candy that could fit in a 6-foot-diameter Earth piñata is enough to put even the most laid back child into a candy craze.
Unfortunately for young party-goers in the area, this and over 100 other piñatas were for viewing purposes only at the 5th Annual Mutant Piñata Show held Friday at Bragg’s Pie Factory.
The show accepts creations from anyone looking to show off their paper-mache talents and will be on display for people exploring First and Third Fridays over the next two months.
Beatrice Moore, creator of the event and owner of the large showroom at the corner of Grand Avenue and McKinley Street, has watched the show grow each year.
“It’s picking up steam,” Moore said. “I try to send out flyers for the show as far and wide as I can. All of a sudden, people are just sending in all these piñatas.”
Moore hangs some piñatas from the ceiling while others are left in clusters on the ground or placed on various props. No theme is off limits, with the spectrum running from fairy tale characters to a disemboweled Hello Kitty.
“I think it’s really out there,” said Veronica Gonzalez, a two-time visitor to the show. “I’d really like to know the story behind some of the stranger piñatas.”
Moore renovated Bragg’s Pie Factory in 2008 to better accommodate the small businesses that now occupy it. The piñata show inhabits the largest space in the building, which is slightly smaller than a football field.
Kate Benjamin, who runs a craft shop next to the show, loves the wide range of participants.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Benjamin said. “There are artists, non-artists, kids, businessmen – you name it. All of them come up with something interesting and unique.”
Moore expects the show to continue attracting more visitors and piñatas.
“People really enjoy this show,” Moore said. “It’s got a kind of magical feeling to it. It’s not people trying to be fine artists. It’s just people having fun making something they and others can enjoy.”
Others are welcome to purchase the piñatas too. Small cards hang from each piece, showing its title, price and the name of the artist.
Ana Forner created a piñata for the event for the second straight year. The roughly four-foot-tall risqué mermaid took her 24 hours to make.
“I had a side business making children’s piñatas many years ago,” Forner said. “So this is just me getting back into it. Plus, I love the culture of this event. I get to see all of the different creations and what inspired them.”
Contact the reporter at jmmarsh1@asu.edu
