Let’s Go Fly a Kite! – Earthday Kite Workshop

Wednesday | April 17 | 4:00-6:00pm
Winona Arts Center | 228 East 5th St

Celebrate Earthday and spring with a kite-making workshop. All materials needed to make, paint and fly the kites will be provided. A white 18˝x 21˝ sail will be the support for each participant to paint their kite with their own unique design. Allow 1.5 – 2 hours to complete the kite. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.  Young children may need an adult or older teen to assist them or work together on their kites.

Fee: $10 per kite for Winona Arts Center members, + $5 fee for non-Arts Center members. Pre-registration is advised to assure a place in the workshop; limited to 12 participants. Some scholarships are available for children– please inquire. Register by phone: Mary Coughlan at 608-525-0050 or email WinonaArtsCenter@gmail.com. Name and contact information are needed.

Sled Kites are one of the simple and traditional kite designs that many people recognize. They are super easy to build, easy to fly, and super stable. They are composed of a simple flat sail with at least 2 spars. Spars can be solid, or they could be inflated fabric spars. Generally, the spars run parallel to one another from the leading edge of the kite to the trailing edge (sometimes they taper towards one another at the tail). They have a simple bridle that attaches to the winged portion of the sail past the spars. Most Sleds have some form of tail to help give the kite stability.

History of the Sled Kite: The sled kite was invented and patented by the American, William Allison in the 1950s. This kite helped pave the way for a class of kites known as “semi-rigid.” Sled kites have been used for Kite Aerial Photography, fishing, and for lifting ‘line laundry’. Sleds are stable enough to lift an anglers line and take it further out to sea allowing the fisherman to achieve greater distances.  Photographers are able to obtain amazing overhead shots of landscapes, scenery, and events.

Winona Arts Center is a member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/JOIN.