The ingredients for a Successful Kite Workshop Tour
Throughout the United States….
One traditional Japanese kite maker:
Nobuhiko Yoshizumi
Funding sources to support the tour:
Utah Arts Council
State of Washington
Japanese Gardens of Portland, Oregon
Whidbey Island School Parents
Tieton Arts and Humanities
Islandwood Environmental Center ( Bainbridge Island)
Materials for Classroom kites:
estimated need of 6,000 kites
Time:
4 week period tour, 8 months of pre-programming
Transportation/room and board:
hotels, family stays
Kite Makers accompanying Yoshizumi:
Scott Skinner/ Ali Fujino and Greg Kono
Put all these ingredients in a bowl and mix.
Create and the results:
Kite making experience for over 6,000 people in a four week period which featured:
Utah
The Yoshizumi Kite tour started in Salt Lake City Utah, with a week of scheduled kite workshops, lectures and walk-in kite making to celebrate the Japanese festival with the sister city of Matsumoto, Japan. Staged at the new main branch of the public library, residents were allowed the opportunity to attend and participate in several workshops, making Japanese shibori dyed and Koi kites. Our hosts provided the necessary foundation which makes it easy for us to concentrate on the content of the kite making.
Special thanks to Etsuko Freeman and her able and dedicated volunteer staff. While we were there, the staff was trained to go on and carry on a year’s programming and events in the Utah area without our presence.
A special one-day, two session workshop on fighter kites was done by Scott Skinner and Brolly Arts of Salt Lake.
Montana
Despite weather conditions, and the two days to get to Dillon, Montana, we were hosted by Eva Mastrandrea, Director of Art at the University of Western Montana. This was an intensive week of university lectures, workshops and exhibitions. We featured two new exhibitions; SkyArt: the works of Yoshizumi, Skinner and Sainz as well as The Artist and the Kitemaker: Nancy Kiefer and Greg Kono
Our contacts were so pleased with our work in Dillon, that 2009 dates are being confirmed for our participation with the Montana Teachers conferences and the National Art Educators Conference in Minneapolis.
Back to Washington State
Yoshi and Greg Kono worked two days in a school in Eastern Washington, funded by non-profit, Tieton Arts and Humanities. Organized by ESD ( Educational School District) and with the help of parents and teachers, we managed to do kite making for 460 students within a two-day period.
Western Washington, Bainbridge Island
Next stop was Islandwood, a non-profit environmental school founded by Aldus software creator, Paul and Laurie Brainard. Using the creative force of flight, Greg and Yoshi help teach environmental concepts with the making of animal kites and bring the appreciation of Japanese style decoration to the sails. Islandwood was so impressed with the use of kites in their programming, that more is planned in the future!
Portland, Oregon
In conjunction with Children’s Day and the Japanese Garden of Portland, funding for Yoshi and Greg to demonstrate and make Koi kites for the public on this day was coordinated with Diane Durston, program director. Over 300 families experienced a no-charge event and koi kites took flight.
Whidbey Island, Washington
Since the grants procured paid for Yoshizumi’s trip to America, we were able to offer his participation to a Washington state school on Whidbey Island for entire week, engaging 500 students in the school. Teachers and parents raised money to cover the costs of the kites, the fees for the kite makers, and housing was provided by homestays with area teachers. The homestays gave forth to some wonderful area artist gatherings, reaching out to more of the community.
Our many thanks to Yoshizumi, giving us four weeks of his time, energy and creative spirit! A special thanks to Scott Skinner and Greg Kono who split the four weeks to accompany Yoshi and give their kiting expertise to the public! And to the $8,000 raised to make this all possible.