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Kites have come a long way from a couple of sticks covered with
paper. Modern materials combined with old and new techniques of construction have taken the kite from child's toy to the level
of high craft and at times high art. Contemporary kite makers let the imagination soar as they challenge the very perception
of what a kite is. While the airplane has existed for a mere 100 years, kites have had a place in the sky for more than two
thousand. They elevate our spirit and allow those of us who are restrained by gravity to play in the spaces once reserved
for the creatures lucky enough to have been born with wings.
This presentation was created as an introduction to kites; where
they have come from, how far they have progressed, and a glimpse at where they might be heading. From paper to polyester,
bamboo to carbon-fiber, single-line to multi-line trick kites. The idea was to let the viewer get a look at kites from a new
perspective, close up and at eye level instead of a view from the end of a long string.
The kites displayed are just a handfull of the kites in my
collection. A collection that comes from all over the world and varies in scale from a few square inches to room-size. I have
had an interest in kites since the late 1960s when my pop gave me a paper and bamboo serpent kite from Thailand. I built my
first kite in the early 70s and was introduced to modern kites in 1980 when I met Domina Jalbert, creator of the parafoil.
I am a member of the American Kitefliers Association and the Treasure Island Sport Kite Klub.
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