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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER 2011

EDITORS

Scott Skinner
Ali Fujino
Katie Davis

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Scott Skinner
Martin Lester
Joe Hadzicki
Stuart Allen
Dave Lang
Jose Sainz
Ali Fujino

BOARD OF DIRECTORS EMERITUS

Bonnie Wright
Wayne Wilson
Keith Yoshida

Drachen Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation devoted to the increase and diffusion of knowledge about kites worldwide.

WWW.DRACHEN.ORG

Discourse is published on the Drachen Foundation website several times a year and can be downloaded free at www.drachen.org (under “Browse” > “Articles”).

EDITORS

Scott Skinner Ali Fujino Katie Davis

BOARD  OF DIRECTORS

Scott Skinner Martin Lester Joe Hadzicki Stuart Allen Dave Lang Jose Sainz Ali Fujino

BOARD OF DIRECTORS EMERITUS

Bonnie Wright Wayne Wilson Keith Yoshida

Drachen Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation devoted to the increase and diffusion of knowledge about kites

worldwide.

WWW.DRACHEN.ORG

FROM THE EDITORS

The exciting difference between Discourse and our previous publication, the Journal, is that articles come from anyone and anywhere in the world. Rather than passing through the Journal editorial filter that began with Ben Ruhe, articles for Discourse are left, to the greatest extent possible, in the original words of the writers. In this issue we have voices from Argentina, Nepal, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and the United States.

The subjects covered span the gamut of the contemporary kite scene, from workshops with underprivileged children to commissioning of the new World’s Largest Kite. We learn more about the long tradition of kites in Nepal and experience one man’s environmental art.

But I have to mention the article by Dieter Dehn from Germany. Dieter presented the essence of this paper to the Historical Kite Workshop in Apeldoorn, Netherlands this spring, and he made our jaws drop! For all of us who thought that Gilbert Totten Woglom was a minor contributor to the American kite scene, and that William Eddy’s Malay kite was the “bright shining star” of the time, Dieter demands that we reconsider. Nuances of Eddy’s kite design were advanced by Woglom and the patents of their kites are eerily similar. Could it be that the famous Eddy kite in the Smithsonian collection is really more a Woglom than Eddy? Wonderful food for thought.

Scott Skinner Board President

Drachen Foundation

CONTRIBUTORS

Helma Dehn

DIETER DEHN

Frankfurt, Germany

A design engineer, Dehn has been occupied with kites and kite history since 1977, after buying David Pelham’s book, Kites. Dehn has participated in the Historical Kite Workshop since 2007.

More info at www.dedrache.de.


Adrian Dubisnky

MARIA ELENA GARCÍA AUTINO

Buenos Aires, Argentina

A Barriletes a Toda Costa (BaToCo) member, Autino is a retired professor who taught for many years at the University of Buenos Aires. She has won national and international awards for her work in education.


Scott Skinner

PETER LYNN

Ashburton, New Zealand

Kite designer, innovator, promoter, and theoretician, Lynn is a world authority on kite design. His large kites are fixtures at kite festivals worldwide and he has influenced an entire generation of young kite designers.


PROFESSOR NIRMAL MAN TULADHAR

Kathmandu, Nepal

Professor Tuladhar is the chair of Social Science Baha, a nonprofit that promotes social sciences in Nepal. He has participated in the Dieppe and Thailand kite festivals for many years and has been an advisor for kite competitions in Nepal.


Jo Erskine

TONY RICE

Brisbane, Australia

Rice has been an artist for over 30 years. His latest artwork is made from found plastic and expresses environmental concerns. Rice also gives kite workshops and is an innovative kite maker, adapting modern materials to traditional designs.


Diana C. Ross

DIANA C. ROSS

San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina

A former English teacher, Ross has been making and painting kites for more than 10 years. Ross organizes kite workshops for all ages, in particular for young people at risk, and gives teacher-training courses to promote kiting in Argentina.


Jose Sainz

SCOTT SKINNER

Monument, Colorado

A former Air Force instructor pilot, Drachen’s board president has flown and designed kites for three decades. Today, Skinner is known as a world class, visionary kite artist.


Articles

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