2008  - 2007

Dec 19, 2007
Quote of the Day: "I think it would be a good idea." Mahatma Gandhi, when asked what he thought of Western civilization
Site of the Day:  www.kitebuilder.com Steve & Tony Ferrel  When someone tells you to: "Go Build a Kite" your first letters typed to be: www.kitebuilder.com "With your help this web site will continue to evolve. Submit your ideas - your profile, your pictures, your kite building tips, plans, links, and articles. What drives your passion for kite building?
What knowledge can you share?

Greetings.
Research will be a very important part of what the museum will be doing and sponsoring - I just haven't talked about it much yet - first things first.
Thom Shaken and I have been talking about trying to help fill the void of the ceased Drachen Journal and other kite research.
The second item Thom and I have been working on is establishing a serious focus on paper kites - he with everything paper, and myself with my 20th century paper kite collection of about 1,000. And of course Meg is always up.
But more on these later. For now, it is enough to do fewer things well, and my focus for the next few months is to get the modest Pelee Island kite museum open, and start laying the ground work for a second, much larger kite museum 2 in the greater Toronto area. slow and steady.
But I did want to put that out there that research will be an important part of what we will do.
In other news, THANK YOU to Mike ? (sorry but I don't know his last name other than "Mikeenchico" on Kitebuilder.com) for undertaking his work on the Saul's Barrage Kite.  Here is a link to some research Mike has made available. http://www.sysmatrix.net/~mikenchico/Sauls.htm  Interestingly, Saul conducted his initial tests here in Halifax, Canada, on a merchant ship.
(Another FYI now that I am thinking of it. I will take delivery next month of two working replica Garber control boxes i commissioned, one for display and one for field demonstrations - Thanks Kerry)
Again, I really need to manage expectations - the kite museum will take at least 3-5 years to really find its legs, and it must be fun and meaningful to do, or else why bother? The last thing to remember, is that we are focused on a sustainable museum to survive into the future. I don't want this stuff locked away in a warehouse that people have to become bureaucrats to be able to get permission to see like the horror stories Yves Laforest and others have told me about.
Lastly, always open to ideas, and acquiring or sponsoring kite related works.
Ok, enough blabbling. Best of season to all.

Dec 13, 2007
Quote of the Day: "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."  Oscar Wilde
Site of the Day:  http://best-breezes.squarespace.com This is Canadian Bob White's contribution to "promote an understanding of kites and why they are fascinating to so many people."  Between Bob and Meg Albers, we are very fortunate to have two serious kite historians within 30 minutes of each other.

Don't have a lot to write about really, given the holidays and all, just wanted to have regular postings.  It will be interesting to see how The Kite Runner movie goes over.  So here are two e-mails from two of my favourite people:
The first is an e-mail from Meg Albers which share the very good news about her Niagara International Kite Festival being judged one of the top six festivals of any kind in the world. 
"Yesterday’s 9 Dec 2007 the UK Times Sunday Travel Magazine put out its January issue.  In the issue is an article about…Six Festivals of the World…The Niagara International Kite Festival is one of the six!  Thanks to the excellent flyers, supporters and contributors like you. An extra big kudos goes to Wayne Brunjes, whose wonderful web site http://niagarakite.com went a long way in swaying the reporter’s decision.  When I get actual copies and scan them I will pass them along.  Thanks again, it was truly a joint effort.
Love, Meg"
NOTE:  The Wayne Brunjes Meg refers to is a master kite designer as well as great web designer.  He did Meg site, as well as the banner for mine.  You can see more of his incredible work on his own web-site: http://www.wbgx.com/

Secondly, I received the following e-mail from our friends at Cerfs-volantstyistes, which I post in its original French language.  You really should check out the artistry of Christine and her friends.
L’année 2007 tire à sa fin et apporte avec elle de merveilleux souvenirs pour l’équipe des Cerfs-volantstylistes !
Nous avons contribués à de nombreux événements dont nous sommes très fiers ! Visitez notre Galerie photos http://www.lcvs.ca/galeriephotos.html  afin de regarder quelques photos des activités auxquels nous avons eu le plaisir de participer.
Nous sommes à planifier nos projets, dont certains à but non-lucratif, pour l’année 2008. Nous sommes très heureux de vous annoncer que notre nouveau projet, qui consiste à une collecte de cerfs-volants pour les enfants dans le besoin, a déjà des répercussions aux États-Unis et en France http://www.lcvs.ca/nosprojets.html
Nous vous invitons également à consulter notre calendrier 2008. Des organisateurs d’événements ont déjà réservé des dates d’activités pour la saison estivale afin de se garantir notre présence. Soyez prévoyant, contactez-nous dès maintenant !

That is it for now.  Our very best for a safe and good holiday. 

Nov 21, 2007
Quote of the Day:  "Imagination is the highest kite you can fly."  Lauren Bacall
Site of the Day"  http://www.kitelife.com/index.htm Kitelife has been a leading source of kiting information since April 1998, as a bi-monthly Internet publication and archive with a dazzling array of articles, plans, event coverage, commentary, videos and photos.

Agreed to a 5 year lease on 10 acres on Pelee Island for our kite field.  Now you will be able to get on the ferry for a relaxing ride on the lake, walk across the street from the dock and visit the kite museum in the Heritage Centre and fly kites right behind the building.  Add some food and drink, and you have a nice day trip.  Of course, stay one or more nights at any of our charming B&B's and you too will be able to capture the unique island memories of Pelee.

Had a long talk with Thom Shanken of New York who is one of the world experts on paper kites and historical North American kites. He is getting ready for his trip to Drachen to do some research.  The museum is working on plans to sponsor a paper kite symposium later in 2008.  If I could have a position of Dr. of Paperkiteology, it would be Thom.

After many weeks of research and deliberations, I have relented and decided that the Kite Museum shall be a not-for-profit whose focus shall be preservation, education, and awareness of kites and the world of play.

As for supporting individual kite artisans, I am creating the Pelee Island Kite Company to over see these transactions and keep them separate from the not-for-profit.  All profits from the kite company will be donated back into the Kite Museum.

This ends a real conflict as to how I could enjoy giving back with kites without becoming a administrative bureaucrat.  The paperwork for a not-for-profit and the limitations of every decision you make is tedious.  But there is a psychological comfort to some institutions with the label of NFP, and I defer to it.

The goal here is to create a strong yearly program of kiting, sustained by a profitable business which shall build up an honorarium with enough money that the interest will go a long way to sustaining the museum and its programs long after I am dead.  Otherwise, what is the point really?  If I am going to do it - do it right.  Once we have it - then what?  Everything I have seen that has been donated or given to government ends up in warehouses that require a lot of patience and paperwork to even try to see - and that is those which doesn't go missing.  Leave it to the "World" Kite Museum or Drachen?  Well that would still leave nothing on this side of the continent or in Canada, and it would also take away the physical base need to maintain the kite program on, though some we certainly go to those two centers.

So far I have communicated with my friend Christine  of Les Cerfs-volantstylistes who is the only other not-for-profit kite organization in Canada, and we have agreed to share NFP knowledge and experiences to ensure we more than comply with all of the regulations while continuing to enjoy our kites.

Well, that is it for now.  thank you for your interest.

Nov 10, 2007
Quote of the Day: "Why is everybody always shooting down my ideas?"  Paul Garber  (Paul Garber did not say this but he is the American who designed the Garber target kite which the military used to practice anti-aircraft gunnery.)
Site of the Day: http://robroy.dyndns.info/targetkites  Speaking of Garber target kites, this is THE greatest site dedicated to the kites of war.  Charles P. Hall runs it and can always use your support.

Had lunch with Meg Albers yesterday, and she was telling me to watch for an important announcement coming in January regarding international recognition of her Niagara International Kite Festival, so stay tuned for that.  I told her that after the less than 8,000 people at the recent Toronto Kitefest, I didn't see where the big festival idea can work in Ontario.  Community based ones yes, but there currently isn't a traditional base for these big events like in Europe and Asia where they have been around for many decades and centuries.  Many potential sponsors told me that they didn't think it would be a smart use of their donation fund, so that leaves it to government to step in like in Quebec and the Maritimes - and of course the only true international kite festival in the world - the Niagara one with activities on both sides of the border.

Another challenge with these festivals is that they often only happen because of one totally committed personality.   It is Meg for Niagara, and the incredible Don Brownridge for Toronto.  This past year I have had the privilege of witnessing what these folks do up close and they truly are the heart and soul of the events.
I certainly hope there is a way for these larger events to keep happening.  They inspire and provide useful opportunity to maintain a kite presence here for the exchange of knowledge and kinship.
For myself, in terms of kite festivals, my focus and support will now be on the local, community based kite festivals and events.  Something Meg and I strongly believe in is the importance of working with kids and families with kites.  Which reminds me of an incredible Canadian who also works with children, inspires, is a master artist, and so much more - Robert Trépanier - but that is a subject deserving of a separate writing along with the Les Cerfs-vaolantstylists. They, along with others, are what make Quebec the artistic centre of kite design.

Many thanks to all of you who have shared your thoughts about the museum, project ideas, etc - and yes, even the prodding to do more with this web-site.

Nov 9, 2007 -
Quote of the Day:  "Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did - only backwards and in high heels."

Site of the Day:  www.lcvs.ca  This group of artisan kite flyesr from Quebec have such a wonderful spirit and poetry about them.  Please visit their site and contribute to their vision and various projects.

Working through the details of preparing for the opening of the kite museum on Pelee island this May 10th.  Some of my immediate challenges are:

Interior:
How to best utilize the small space - 16' X 48'
Determining how to best display the items and construct the supports
Creating the information descriptions and signage

Externally:
How to best promote the museum on Pelee while at the same time having people understand that the kite museum will also be in other location - as a bricks and mortar museum, as well as in a number of communities as exhibits?  Hey, there was Fillmore east and Fillmore west right?

Right now, I am talking with some waterfront communities about partnering with one of them for a year round museum complete with community programming and promotion.  Pelee will always be where the dream was born, and there will always be a kite presence there, but the reality is that it is seasonal and with extremely limited space for such a large need.  How large?  I can comfortably fill half a hockey arena - give me a whole arena and we can add indoor kite flying and various ballooning and glider activities.

But for  now, my focus is getting ready for Pelee and laying a foundation for a larger presence.  Aside from that, the question of impulsive freedom vs. the bureaucratic restrictions of not-for-profit is almost resolved, in terms of how should I structure the organization.  More about that later.

October 25, 2007
By way of a quick update, the collection continues to grow, and I am increasingly occupied with considerations regarding administrative and financial structure for the museum - IE meeting with accountants and lawyers.
Been working on the plans for the displays inside the Pelee Island museum.  It is such a small space that I have to be very scrutinizing of what is where and why.  Of course, the kite museum is meant to be about going out to where the people are and so to that end I have been working on arrangements for kite exhibits with the City of Burlington and the Royal Botanical Gardens for the 2008 program as well as some others.
Have started to look at what products to order with the museum logo on.  Have had a number of requests for a kite jacket along the lines of the one I wear.  And suggestion of what you think would be good for a promotional item to raise a bit of money, please don't hesitate to let me know.  The clothing stuff is pretty easy in the sense that I will have a few pro-types and then when someone wants one we can just do it up - also because each coat has to be different whether it is your name, a different badge, embroidery colour, no two will be the same.
So as you can see, not much to say today, but I didn't want this to continue without some kind of update.  Your comments continue to be most welcome and communicating with some of you in other languages isn't too bad with the online translation services.
Good winds.
 

October 10, 2007
I have been focusing more on defining the museum, which no doubt shall continue to be an evolutionary process.
One of the foremost considerations is how to responsibly care for the historical donations entrusted to me such as Ray Bethell's world record endurance kite?  These are not bragging trophies, they are important keys to stories which must be told long after I die.
To that end, I am joining the Ontario Association of Museums, for their resources and to find some people to act as a third part of an oversight committee to ensure my collection is kept available to the viewing public.  The other two parties will be my family, and I will follow up on an initial discussion I had with Scott Skinner of the Drachen Foundation who I trust to contribute to an intelligent course.  I don't know if Scott will agree, I hope he will, but I do want his knowledge, though I think it is  important that the collection contribute to a presence on this side of the continent.

The Ontario Museum Association was kind enough to send me a guide about starting a museum, and  it made me recoil as if I had tasted sour milk.  The administration is all consuming, the paperwork, the meetings, the governances protocols, staff, building, overhead - ahhhhhhh!!!  No wonder so many museum struggle - there is no time for sheer enjoyment of the purpose of the museum.

Sorry my friends, but if I can't enjoy it - I ain't doing it.  I don't want a museum that constantly struggles to get people in the door.  My vision is more a virtual museum beyond bricks and mortar, a living museum that goes out to where people are, that inspires through connection, and sustains through education and resources.  It has to be fun, easy and where they are.  It cannot be passive, it must be interactive AND empowering.

If I had had a board, they would have crucified me for the thousands I spent supporting flyers to attend festivals this past year.  (so would my wife if she really knew)  Nor do I have any patience to run around giving power point presentations to people about the blah blah blah about how wonderful the museum will be.  To me - if I build it, they will come.  The world can easily live without it, and it will not cure cancer.  But life is funny.  I learned along time ago, that it is the little ways we affect people's lives which really matters most. 

I think we can make a small contribution to families having a few special moments out of the house and away from technology.  The physically challenged can sense a release from their prisoner bodies and soar with their mind, and frankly, we can provide an opportunity for people to simply play.  George Carlin does a great routine about how parents should leave their kids the f*** alone, and quit structuring them so much.  He says every kids should be allowed time every day to simply daydream - and he is right.  And I know a lot of adults who should do the same thing.

So anyways, before I go off on a rant with all the answers to the world's problems I will stop there for today.  Words are such a poor substitute for what we instinctively know to be true.

October 1, 2007
Just back from Meg Albers' Niagara International Kite Festival.  It is called the Niagara International Kite Festival but we all know no one in the world could put together that kite of event and talent which even makes one of the 7 wonders of the world a second thought for going.

The evening in the Buffalo train station was surreal and full of warmth.  The word "flow" comes to mind in thinking of the feel of the event.  You can see some of the pictures soon in the gallery section of this site.

Finally got to meet the incredible Ray Bethell and his sweetheart Dolores Taylor.   What an inspiration and humbling experience that was.  After observing him from a distance via the internet, what struck me most about meeting him in person was his humanity and down to earth presence.  Listening to him describe how he flies 3 or more stunt kites at once is as mystifying as watching him actually do it  is mesmerizing.  "Good stuff" as he says, and what a lucky man to have found such an endearing soul mate like Dolores.

Also got to meet another inspiration for me - Kisa from Germany.  I have admired the work of Kisa and her friends on the internet and finally got to see the banners, kites and the inspiration.  Underwater kite flying, indoor flying artistry - an oracle of the world of flow and form, I was fortunate to acquire one of her scubig kites.  In time, I shall own at least one of everything she makes.  Please check out her web-site, especially her shop page.

It was great to see Robert Trépanier, who created a quick kite that still had wet paint on it as it was being auctioned off - which I was fortunate to win.  The last time I saw him in Dieppe, NB, he was flying the lid of a drink cooler he had bridled into a kite which flew quite well for most of the day by itself.  He does not have a web-site, but click this link to see a profile of him by the Drachen Foundation.

Then there was the Kelvin Woods flying 20 of his beautiful hand made Butterflies. Each one of the butterflies represents an actual species, PLUS his award winning Muhammad Ali, Johnny Cash, Marilyn Monroe kites.  The world will be hearing more about this never sleeps,  creative enigma of such subtle, poetic kite making presented with loud, in your face grunge showmanship.  May he never change.  Sorry, no web site for him.

Had the chance to squeeze in a few conversations with Scott Skinner, of the the Drachen Foundation.  Aside from interviewing him on video, we had a chance to compare notes about considerations for what happens to our collections when we die?  I have learned that you cannot entrust them to government as they will get left in some warehouse that everyone forgets about - with a a dozen forms and approvals to go through to see them.  Would never sell the donated ones.  Don't want to have the collection to be like so many museums - perpetually scraping by on hand outs, chocolate bar drives and being a burden to a volunteer board.  (More about those plans in the future) Nor do I want everything based out in Colorado, great as it truly is, when there is an immense population base here in the great lakes/eastern US region that could use easy access to it and help provide a regional anchor for kiting.
My current consideration is a trilogy of my family, the Drachen Foundation and a board made up of regional kite people I admire.  When I get this worked out, it will be on to the lawyers for the changes to the will.  I am also looking at creating a non-profit corporation but loath the administration to goes with such an entity.

Enjoyed meeting Malcolm & Jeanette Goodman, AKA The Kiteman, and swapping stories about what fun it is to try to open a kite museum - his in his house - and to encounter the challenges of building authorities and government agencies.  If you will be in the neighbourhood, he says you should e-mail him and he will give you an unofficial tour of his un-official museum which isn't really a museum.  That is his story and he is sticking to it. But it does sound fascinating.

And finally, thank you to Meg and all the other guests too many to mention who made this such a wonderful event..