Learning air craft
Kite workshop delights dozens
Pam Howell Helps her sons Justin Howell, left, and Cody Howell tie the joints of their kite spines during a kite making workshop at the Double Six Gallery in Grants Saturday. The workshop was the first of several events that make up the Kites Are Cool project. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Helen Davis
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Saturday was a perfectly windy day in Grants, putting kite makers at the Double Six Gallery in the mood for getting their handmade projects up and away.

The workshop generated excitement among the approximately 20 people who attended the first of at least two of the dual-sponsored kite making events and filled the gallery with hardworking people new to kites, as well as veterans who came to help or to reconnect with an old interest.

Volunteer Rick Best from the Northwest New Mexico Visitor Center, a sponsor of Kites are Cool, and veteran kiter Paul Carittini of the Cibola Arts Council joined gallery executive director Robert Gallegos in helping kids and adults with cutting tough white Tyvec into the classic kite shape, sawing notches in cross piece supports and learning the lore of the kite.

Gallegos said the turnout was excellent. Before the event, he had no idea what to expect, he said. In the end, the event attracted participants from toddlers to those over 60.

Savannah Torrez, 10, said she came because she wanted to learn how to make a good kite and wanted to make it fly. Besides, she loves art and has worked with sculpture at school, she said. Savannah said she wants to stay with the kite project and compete for the money in the contest coming up at La Fiesta de Colores in May.

San Rafael resident Johnny Montoya, 67, said he has been flying kites since he was a kid and decided to give the workshop a try when he read about the workshop in a local newspaper. Montoya said he used to make kites and expects to try his workshop project in the air at the March 14 Come Fly with Me fly day at the visitor center.

Caratinni is another kite veteran. Hanging over the work table full of colored markers and heads bent in concentration over string and dowel, Caratinni’s double French military-style kite gave an amazing contrast to the classic white diamonds taking shape below. In addition to being as long as the work table and considerably wider, the 1970’s behemoth jumped with primary colors.

Caratinni said the kite has gone with him everywhere he went, including Germany and Washington, since he bought it at a now-defunct kite shop in Long Island, N.Y. Carittini said he got the military-style kite off the ground easily right away, but added that the traditional flat kite, by contrast, is a hard kite to fly.

Fonda Archibald from south of Grants expressed some concern about getting kites aloft. She attended the workshop with daughters Christie, 12 and Sarah, 11. Asked if the family would be out at the visitor center the following weekend, she said, “If our kites will fly, we’ll be there.”

Best conceded that “adjustments will need to be made,” before a new kite will be totally airworthy. Little things need to be tweaked in the field, a string tightened here, a tail lengthened there. Best, who is a ranger or the U.S. Park Service, will be on hand along with Carattini and Gallegos to make field adjustments for the maiden flights.

The fly event is open to everyone with a kite to fly or an interest in watching. Gallegos said people can buy a variety of colorful or plain kites at local businesses if they missed the workshop. Another construction workshop will be held on April 18, before the contest in May.

Kristina Simpson and her twin brother Wyatt, 5, are ready with workshop kites. Asked if he was going to fly his kite at the center’s event, Wyatt nodded, “Yes.”

The twins attended the workshop with their grandmother Corine Padilla, who had kites as a child but never made them because, she said, her brothers did it. But now she is thinking of making a kite, she added.

Tonia Cooper, 11, said that in spite of a blue sling and well-bandaged arm, she will be there to fly her kite. She assured the Independent that she will be able to handle the job, having done it before. Tonia said she broke her arm rolling skating.

Information: Come Fly with Me kite flying day, the Northwestern New Mexico Visitor Center in Grants, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., March 14. Free. Everyone invited. Purchased kites welcome. Next workshop at the Double Six Gallery, April 18, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.