West Farms - On January 8th, the Bronx celebrated the New Year with ROMPE PUESTO, a free interactive event.  Over twenty local featured artists and art groups created their interpretation of piñatas for one sole purpose—destruction.

Occurring in the Bronx River Art Gallery, the event provided total stress-relief for some and complete enjoyment for others.  Adults and children present at the event were able to take chances at breaking open the art pieces in hopes of collecting numerous art-related items or other strange offerings concealed within.

Before the action started, the piñatas could be seen displayed throughout the gallery with the names of the artists written on tags strung to each corresponding piece.  DJ Juan Mapu, who seemed to pick the perfect hit list of songs for the evening, gracefully executed music.  After a large crowd developed, organizers Blanka Amezkua and Ronny Quevedo began rallying everyone to begin the anticipated folly.  Being passed around were brown recycled bags which seemed large at 17.5”L x 8.25”W x 5.25”D, but had just enough volume to hold one participant’s collection of the night.

"ROMPE PUESTO loosely translates into "breaking ground."  In this scenario, the artists and the organizers use the cathartic act of celebration to foster new alternatives to exhibit, perform, congregate, and collaborate.”

The first appearance of the evening was a classically designed piñata that featured cone shapes and streamers, completely done in white.  Kids seemed excited and were raring to go.  Soon enough, it was broken open and the kids made off with the goods.  The next piñata to be sent to its doom was Melissa Calderón’s replica Death Star with an impenetrable shield made of over 15 layers of paper.  Most were lacking “the force” necessary to reap its rewards which included Star Wars image discs.  A few attempts from a young girl broke the first stick as the next little rebel yielded a strike just strong enough to disengage the planet-like piñata from its hanging hardware.  With the help of one of the adults, the piñata was ripped open and its contents left defenseless against the attacking children.

Another that proved difficult to get to the heart of was a three-foot diamond-shaped piñata which definitely wasn’t a “girl’s best friend” that evening.  To the dismay of the participants, neither children nor women nor men were able to chip a single facet of this piece without making precision cuts into the structure to weaken it.  Both the “death star” and “diamond” helped destroy several long 1-1/2” thick wooden dowels.  Later, a bat appeared to be a better choice for getting the job done.

Daniel Bejar’s piñata in the shape of a bust of Christopher Columbus took very few people to invade.  All of them seemed to fear hitting the “discoverer” in the face, opting to strike the piece from the bottom laying out a bounty of items that included gold-foiled chocolate coins.  Laura Napier’s peanut-shaped piñata doubled as eyes on either side and when broken, revealed, well, peanuts amongst other goodies.  One of the largest pieces made using colorful streamers was a jellyfish created by Kenya Robinson who announced, “This jellyfish is a ‘Portuguese Man of War’ representing the U.S. occupation in Iraq.  Why are we there?  Beat the thing up…beat the thing up!”  And, with that, a motivated girl “beat it up” with three hits, taking it down rather quickly.

Near the end of the evening, a disco ball was giving people a run for their money, as it was staying alive through the futile attempts to open it.  Even with a baseball bat, only a few dents were made.  This is where Blanka Amezkua came over and pulled me onto the dance floor.  Well, being a KISS fanatic at the age of seven when disco was in its heyday, I took the baseball bat in hand, and gave it the “disco is dead” beating of its life.  When I busted it open, an outpour of colorful condoms, lubricants and Tylenol packs fell to the ground as adults and children alike hustled to acquire the contents…shocking and metaphorical as well.

The final piece was a large three-dimensional thought bubble designed by Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz, who, unfortunately, was unable to attend.  Written in the dark humor of comic-like authorship, it read “CHULETA:  THIS IS HOW YOU GET SOME!!”  Once this piñata was broken and the contents were gathered, the night came to an end.  In the back part of the gallery laid the remains of the piñatas revealing the creation, the destruction and the aftermath, all in good fun!  If you missed this event, have no fear.  I hear this may be the first of its kind!

By Xavier Figueroa

Editor, photographer, writer and founder of Bronx Art Guide

Xavier Figueroa's website