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Kites have been flying the skies across our world for thousands of years. They have been part of culture in the UK and Pakistan and a family activity for hundreds of years. In times gone by, parks and recreational areas would be full of families enjoying the fine weather with their children.
Nusrat Bibi from The Lipstick Project instigated this wonderful project, wanting to breathe new life into this often-forgotten activity, with the Kite Project. In collaboration with WOVEN, Nusrat’s vision was to engage families and communities in not only kite making but also celebrating these kites by flying them together as families and communities.
Nusrat and The Lipstick Project, with WOVEN had the pleasure of working within a range of different communities across The Birkby and Fartown Community. Working with artist and kite maker Tony Wade the project began on the 7th May at Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, where Tony shared his passion for kite making with the Rainbow Baby Group. Our Mum’s began the first of two sessions to create beautiful silk painted kites. Each kite tells a unique story and gave the participants the opportunity to take some time out to focus on being creative. One Mum shared:
"Creating this kite gave me the opportunity to be mindful. I enjoyed the creative freedom. Being outside is so freeing and I wanted this piece to reflect that. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow.”
In the afternoon we enjoyed a vibrant and lively kite making session with the children from Birkby Junior School. In this session Tony showed the children how to use templates and to create their own individual kites…this also called on some maths skills as the kites had to be symmetrical in order to fly! We even went out to fly these kites in the playground much to everyone’s delight!!
The second part of this project took place on the 21st May, and in the morning session the ladies from the Rainbow Baby group added the finishing touches to their kites. In the afternoon we worked with a group made up from ‘Kirklees in Recovery’ where we took time out to create kites in the sunny room of the Woodland Glade Community Centre. The group enjoyed the quiet space and having a creative freedom of designing their own kites.
"I loved just being present while it gradually came to life on the canvas."
Tony was a great support to the project with his technical knowledge, but also his experience as a multi-media artist. The silk painting was a really great choice for the groups, as pictures and colour could be built up almost effortlessly as the colours ‘melted’ into the silk.
"I chose to create this based on the colours that first went into my pallet tray, it just came from inspiration. Solid roots of a tree with new fruit in a tranquil place. I loved just being present while it gradually came to life on the canvas. Experimenting as I went rather than on the side of the canvas. I really enjoyed the experience."
There was no sense of pressure, just of peace as the participants watched the paint move across the silk. This atmosphere was tangible in both the silk painting groups. The rooms were quiet with concentration and growing satisfaction. Not only was the activity mindful but it also sparked creativity, many of the groups were able to tell a story around the colours they had chosen. This was particularly poignant for the Rainbow Baby Group as many of the stories focussed on family and love.
“I really enjoyed the whole process from start to finish inspiring my creativity.”
"I can’t wait to share the kite with my family and to make some lasting memories.”
All the artwork and kites produced by these 3 groups was displayed at Birkby and Fartown Library at a Community Sharing Event on the 7th June. The event was well attended by the participants and local community, and we even had a mini-kite-making workshop for the children attending.
A bigger kite flying event took place at Greenhead Park on the 28th June, which was publicised across the community for all families alongside project participants to come and fly kites.
Families came together alongside professional kite flyers to fly kites. The day was magical, and the sun even came out! Younger children were able to make ribbon streamers to fly in the breeze.
It was a real joy to see many of our participants making memories with their families at the Greenhead Park Kite flying day. We know Nusrat would like to make this annual event, so watch this space….
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