Ricardo with the Mighty Kites, our New Yorker of the Month for October 2009

Ask a New Yorker: Have you heard any good news recently?

Ricardo: Recently I had a fellow, they call him “the jester”, and he did the first video for Mighty Kite. I hadn’t seen him for years, a really nice guy, and a beautiful guy. He came by and bought 50 kites to take up north of the city because he gives them away to kids. He called me and said, “You can’t believe the excitement of all these kids at this place called Fairy Land!” He’s so enthusiastic about Mighty Kites. I get a little embarrassed with all the praise he’s heaping on me. He wants me to create a kite called Fairy Be Well. His name is Matt Hyman .

Ask a New Yorker: Tell us about your kites.

Ricardo: It’s a pocket size kite that is a lot of fun to fly. It’s very easy. It’s environmentally friendly. You can fly it anywhere. I live and work in the city and I knew about the Far East where they make all sizes of kites. I found out that they make small kites as well. So I said, “Hey, that’s a great idea! I’ll shrink the kite and be able to fly anywhere and have some fun”. I made one kite and brought it out and started flying it. I started making them in my art studio with a razor blade. I made about 2000 of them because people kept on wanting them. So I decided to get sharp on this. I figured I had enough money to go overseas and have them made for me. Originally they were made in China, now they’re made in India. I’ve been to both places several times.

Ask a New Yorker: Do you ever make specialty designer kites?

Ricardo: Recently I had this musician ask me, he’s doing a music video, and he asked me if I could make a kite in the shape of lips. I said sure. I made him two. He paid me $15 each. So yes, I do one of a kind designer kites, whatever you want. If you want a picture of yourself on a kite I can do that.

Ask a New Yorker: Cool.

Ricardo: You too. You look like you enjoy what you’re doing. You do the interviews. I think that’s cool. How cool is that? That’s one reason why I love New York is because people will tell you exactly what they’re thinking. If it’s a good idea, they’ll say great, otherwise get the hell out of here. If you go to L.A., very chi chi,”Oh great idea, let’s have lunch some time” and you’ll never hear from them again. There’s a difference of cultures. The beauty of New York is that we have an amalgamation of people. There are 165 different languages here. You can stand on a street corner and hear twenty different languages and meet people from all over the world. Where else can you get that? Don’t know of any other place. That’s why New York is New York. F#!@ing great man!

Ask a New Yorker: I love it. I see you make jewelry as well.

Ricardo: The jewelry stand paid for the kites. I do one of a kind pieces. I don’t do multiples.

Ask a New Yorker: What else do you create?

Ricardo: Painting, sculpture, jewelry design. This is my first commercial venture, flying art.

Ask a New Yorker: How long have you lived in the city?

Ricardo: I came here in 1979. So I guess I qualify for a Green card. I came from California.

Ask a New Yorker: Are you married?

Ricardo: Many times. Love them all. They just had a tough time being married to an artist. The last one said,”I love you but you’re never home”. Sorry, I tried. Yea, I got lots of kids and lots of grand kids. I have a nice big family.

Ask a New Yorker: So who is Ricardo?

Ricardo: I love people. I feel I’m too trusting. There’s a higher purpose to life. Anybody’s whose trusting will find the slings and arrows. If you can’t stand it then you better close up and not be out-going. Build a shell around yourself to protect yourself. But then again what are you protecting? Protecting other people from you? Screw that. I can take the good with the bad. If I can’t I’m in trouble. Just like you. You come around and trust people. Let’s talk. Let’s get into communication and find out what’s going on.

Ask a New Yorker: The artist life is not easy.

Ricardo: You not only have to be creative but you have to be a savvy, business-wise. The trick is that combination. And boy I’ll tell you that’s a tough one. I’ve run businesses and have done a lot of different things but I didn’t enjoy it. I didn’t enjoy being a paper pusher or sitting at a desk. So one day I just said, “That’s it. I’m done.” I took off my three piece suite, put down my briefcase and decided to go out and enjoy life and what I like to do. So that’s what I’m doing.

Ask a New Yorker: What are you listening to on your Walkman?

Ricardo: I listen to different radio shows learning what’s going on around the city, nation and the world. I also listen to educational tapes to improve myself.

Ask a New Yorker: What do you think of Obama?

Ricardo: He’s no different from the rest of them. He’s clever; he’s a smooth talker but he’s no different from the rest of the politicians.

Ask a New Yorker: What was it like moving from California to New York?

Ricardo: I grew up in Northern California amongst the farmers and that’s cool. But you get tired of listening to what kind of crops are going to grow and how the cows are doing. Is the river going to rise and what Cadillac are they going to buy. Let’s go where there’s some intellect. Let’s go mix it up.

You can find Ricardo at Union Square West and 15th street.

“The next step is to find some entrepreneurs and business people that can see the picture and help take it to the max. In other words make Mighty Kites a national and international business”

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