DO YOU KNOW FRANCO THE GREAT?

“The Picasso of Harlem”

By Keydra Manns

Back in the day, Franco the Great used to bless the gates of Harlem with his New Art form. The international artist has painted gates all across the globe and recently sat down with art lovers at Nilu. The neo gift shop on Lenox Ave opened it’s doors for an intimate conversation with “The Picasso of Harlem” as he reflected on his inspiring and emotional journey to success.

Franco spoke candidly to his audience about his humble beginnings and his current successes. He explained, as a child he fell and hit his head which disabled his speech. Because he could not properly articulate his words, other children wouldn’t play with him and his parents would address him as “Dummy”. “But deep down inside of me, I knew I wasn’t that person,” said the 87-year old Panama native. “I felt isolated and rejected, but I thought if there was something I could do that was different I would gain friends.”

Eventually regaining his speech and with the support of his grandmother Franco ventured off to America from his Panamanian home to become an entrepreneur and a painter. In 1958 Franco settled in Harlem. He would wander up and down 125th street offering to paint murals for free, but he was rejected by every store owner.

During a time when graffiti was the only thing that painted Harlem, a friend questioned the motives of the nascent artist. Why are you trying to work in Harlem? Go downtown, it is much prettier downtown. Recognizing uptown as a challenge that had to be conquered, his answer was simple. “Harlem needs me, I have faith in Harlem.”

Diligence and persistence paid off for Franco, he went to paint more than 200 gates in the uptown neighborhood. While painting gates are his specialty, Franco’s work can be seen all over the globe. Unfortunately none of his gates remain on the storefronts of Harlem. They have been removed due to zone laws that mandate store owners to have see through gates. Twenty five of his gates are being preserved and there are negotiations for them to be displayed at an outdoor gallery at East River Plaza. The plaza can be found on 116th and 1st Avenue on the East side of Harlem.

Many have even unofficially coined 125th street ‘Franco’s Boulevard’ because his murals have aided Harlem in becoming an international tourist attraction.

As the event came to an end, audience members dispersed for autographs and to refresh their cheese plates. A soft spoken Franco spoke up in true entrepreneurial spirit and said, “Remember, no home is complete without a Franco!”

For additional information on Franco the Great visit www.francothegreat.com