“Franco the Great” Paints Christmas in Harlem
125th Street is “Franco’s Boulevard.” If you’ve seen the murals of Barack Obama or Martin Luther King Jr. on storefront gates there, chances are Franco Gaskin has painted them. Gaskin – who calls himself “Franco the Great” but points out that others have christened him “Franco the Magnificent” – has been painting gates for 30 years.
“This is my contribution to Harlem,” he said.
http://theuptowner.org/2010/12/07/franco-the-great-paints-christmas-in-harlem/
A native of Panama, he’s been painting since childhood. At 3, Gaskin fell from a building in an accident that left him mute and introverted; using art to connect with others, he began speaking again, with difficulty, at 10. Now 83, Gaskin has been invited all over the world – Germany, Japan, Italy – to paint.
During the Christmas season, Gaskin paints winter scenes and other holiday-themed décor on storefronts across Harlem.
By Marina Kolobova and Medina Roshan on Dec 7th, 2010 Email Marina about this story