Using Kites to Hit High Notes
In the 13 years that I have been executive director of the Drachen Foundation, I found it amusing and delightful to have a call about using kites from the Houston Opera.
Why would the opera want to fly kites?
The answer was simple. What a better way to involve various international groups from Houston’s African, Central American, Indian, Mexican, Pakistani, Soviet-era Jewish and Vietnamese communities as the Opera but the “Song of Houston” into production. This musical program celebrated all those who have chosen to call the city of Huston their home. Song of Houston was created under the auspices of Houston Grand Opera Company, HGOco, a new initiative connection the Opera to their community through collaboration.
The heart of HGO’s first song of Houston was The Refuge, a piece that presents individual stories from Houston’s international residents. It was the first of what will be many new works to be commissioned under the aegis of the Song of Houston projects. It was the brilliant ideas of Manager Sue Elliott to create a series of kite workshops. “It’s a visual arts project about cultural identity,” said Elliot. “It’s a type of art that is fun and is associated with various cultures, many of which are represented in Houston. Kites have an ancient history---they have been used for military purposes, to pay tribute to dead ancestors and for such things as catching fish.”
In a related series of community and school programs for Houstonians of all ages, the Opera used our Drachen kite kits to promote cross-cultural understanding through story telling in the creative and performing arts.
The family event on April 25th was “Kites on the Bayou.” At this event, purchased Drachen kite kits were used in on site workshops to engage families in their past and present. The best of participation happened when HGO realized the families did not necessarily want to make only their own culture’s kites, the collaboration was in full force. Our Guatemalan, Japanese, Canadian, Cambodian and Indian kites took to the skies.
The program was such a success that HGO informs us that they will be back in our store next year to bring more kites to the community.
For further information contact:
Sue Elliott, HGOco Manager
www.houstongrahdoperat.org
713.545.0230