From: reich@cod.nosc.mil (Ronald S. Reich) Subject: AKA to ME Date: Tue, 15 Jun 1993 21:55:03 GMT THE AMERICAN KITEFLYERS ASSOCIATION (AKA) What it means to me. by Ron Reich I guess it's about time I put in my 2 cents worth on the subject of the AKA. First of all I support the AKA and believe that it does a lot more good for people than it does bad. Furthermore, I believe that Mr. Gombergs intentions are truly honorable. I have had many long talks with him and he has always impressed me as having the best interest in mind for all kite flyers and builders. I have seen him interact with diplomats from other countries. I have seen him put on the spot by poor manners of American kiteflyers in other countries. He has always handled these situations in a professional manner. He is truly a class act and I'm glad he's coordinating the efforts of the AKA. Now, off my soap box. DEFINITION: "ART" The conscious use of skill and creative imagination esp. in the production of aesthetic objects. WEBSTER'S NEW COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY. KITES AS AN ART FORM: Kites and Kiteflyers should definitely be classified as Art and Artists. There are basically 2 distinct areas of art to be considered. Stationary or Static Art and Dynamic or Moving Art. First, lets look at the "ART OF CONSTRUCTION" of a Kite. Both in the single and dual line categories, the craftsman seclects colorful materials and joins them together to create a specific statement with the pattern. That's ART. Furthermore, There is a definate shape that is produced and It must be able to rise on the end of a string or strings powered only by the wind. Some of the shapes I've seen are incredible. For instance, I've seen 3 dimensional; Toilets, Cars, Wheel Barrows, Astronaughts, Windmills, Castles, Centipedes, Birds, Fish, Lizards, Pigs, Cows, and even a set of 5, 20 foot diameter by 2 foot thick Olympic Rings. That's ART. Second, lets look at the "ART OF FLIGHT" for Kites. It takes great skill to design a kite that will rise to the limit of it's line and then sit there motionless like a rock in the sky. It also takes great skill to design a kite that will fly when there is absolutely no wind. I have seen kites fly solely propelled by the thermal heat rising from the ground. The Artist which designed this kite stood motionless over the hot sandy beach and let the thermals carry the kite aloft. It was truly impressive. The kite measured about 2 feet square and when I held it in my hand (palm up) I could hardly detect any weight at all. Most of the kites I've talked about so far are flown on a single line. A whole other class of kites are flown on multiple lines which allow the flyer to steer the kite. Some of these flyers have developed their control skill to the point where they can very accurately carve very specific geometric figures. Several flyers even join together and perform synchronized choreographed routines with high precision. Some of these routines are even choreographed to music. When a flyer takes the time to analyze a composers artistic musical composition and create his own interpretation of that composition with a choreographed kite routine then he is also an artist. The performance of a choreographed routine is an expression of Dynamic Art. Most artists look forward to an opportunity to share their work with other people. The AMERICAN KITEFLYERS ASSOCIATION provides over 3,000 artist an opportunity to share their work with others through the sanctioning of kite festivals and the production of the Kiting magazine. Once a year the AKA holds its National Convention in cities around the country. This should be a time for the best of the best to share their Works Of Art with all the others and the non kite flying public of the area. Also, the convention should provide an opportunity for the other kite artists to have their works evaluated by qualified experts. The evaluations will let them know how their skill levels are developing relative to the others. Any awards given should be for recognition of achievement or performance within different areas of consideration. All awards should be equal. Local and Regional festivals should be the arenas for "competition". The convention presentations should be by invitation based on inputs from local and regional promoters. MEDIA INTEREST IN KITES: "Competition" Thus far competition has been limited to subjectively judged events. It is my observation that very few subjectively judged events get regular national television coverage unless the competitor is putting their life at risk. Subjectively judged sports include; Ice Skating, Gymnastics, Surfing, Boxing, Roller Blading, Radio Controlled Aircraft, and Stunt Kites, etc. Of these sports, only Surfing and Boxing get regular TV coverage and then only when the Surfing is on very large waves where the surfer my suffer serious injury or when the boxing match is by two really tough guys that might bash in the head of the other. In general the public gets board watching things that don't pose a personal threat. Therefore, no corporate sponsor wants to put money into something that is not going to capture the interest of the public long enough to see their product in the advertisement. "Entertainment" I can't remember ever seeing a sad face looking at a kite in the sky. Oh, I've seen a few sad faces looking at their broken kite on the ground but never looking at a kite in the sky. The European people seem to have a greater interest in looking at kites than any other areas I've been. Their festivals usually focus about 75 to 80 percent on single line kites and kite building activities for the children. Only one maybe two fields are set aside for controllable kites. The England festivals draw about 20,000 spectators per day. The France festivals draw about 40,000 spectators per day. The Germany festivals have drawn as many as 70,000 spectators in a single day. The Canadian festival this month drew 105,000 people over a 4 day period. American festivals might draw 20,000 people over a 3 day weekend. The greatest reward that I have ever received was the applause of 40,000 spectators after my team performed in Dieppe,France. Not to mention their chants, "MORE !" "MORE !" "MORE !" AKA IN THE FUTURE: The AKA will survive as kiting has for over 2,000 years. Just what that means for you and me will depend on how much we are willing to support the efforts of those in charge of its direction. The presidency of the AKA is an elected office of its members. This being a democratic society we the members should take an active part in selecting the individuals that will direct the association in a manner to our liking. As long as Learning and Sharing are foremost in the minds of the kiters the wonderful world of kiting will continue to bring pleasure to a lot of people. Well, I guess that was really about two bits worth, Ron Reich