Photos: Balloon artists

Don Caldwell, a.k.a. Buster Balloon, and his wife, Laura Caldwell, a.k.a. Annie Banannie, work on a witch’s hat during a regular gathering of balloon artists at L.A.’s Griddle Cafe.
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Eddie Medrano, a former Marine and circus clown, shows off his monkey creation.
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Don (Buster Balloon) Caldwell looks on as Carmen Tellez, who learned the craft from him, tries on a balloon ghost he made.
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Rob Balchunas, who has been making balloon creations since he was 4 years old, shows off a stripper he fashioned during the SoCal Twisters gathering at the Griddle Cafe.
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Brian Potvin, wearing his unfinished hamburger creation, enjoys a plate of pancakes at a meeting of balloon artists.
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Eddie Medrano with his bag of balloons.
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David Brenion, holding a balloon dog, with Carmen Tellez and Ramon Medellin during a meeting of a balloon artists group, which has been gathering for five years.
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A ladybug finger ring is displayed at the meeting of balloon artists.
See full story  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)