Blog Entries

  • “The wind is blue”: A tour of the Deutsches Technikmuseum’s exhibit, “Windstarken”
    In gathering with the committee that is trying to make Fanoe’s World Wind Center a reality, we were treated to an after-hours tour of Windstarken, by its curator, Martin Mohn.  Windstarken, a special exhibit in just a small part of the Deutches Technik Museum, has been a great success since its opening in October of 2011, and has been extended at the museum through the end of October 2013.  Already, over 450 groups comprising over 10,000 schoolchildren have visited the exhibit and with another school year just starting, that number is likely to double.  Already the exhibit has been accompanied by family celebrations, lectures, radio discussions, and workshops. A memorable moment for Martin, when asking a school group to describe the wind, was when one child said, “the wind is blue”.
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  • Another Kiter Shares His Memories of Jørgen
      Jørgen centre right holding his Stairway to Heaven kite on Fano beach. 1986 I was greatly impressed by his beautifully made kites and unique use of graphics. Jørgen Møller Hansen was a wonderful travelling companion and throughout the tour he kept us all amused with his jokes and stories.  
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  • Farewell Jørgen Møller Hansen
      Perhaps it is a bit “odd” to have so many individuals write about one kitemaker.  But that is the point, it is one SPECIAL kitemaker, and I am sure there are hundreds more who would and are waiting to step up to their computers to write something about this phenomenal man, Jørgen Møller Hansen. These are just three of the tributes to Jorgen and I encourage you to read them all. RIP (rest in peace), our friendly Fanø Dane.  Ali Fujino Executive Director Drachen Foundation  
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  • Immortality on the Web
    During the endless hours I spent staring into two large computer screens in order to move digitized data to our new website, I would take breaks and let my mind go wandering through the information that I was moving. My break would be to discover something interesting, an archival piece, a book, a series of photos, or even a document. One day I came across some written notes I had made after a endearing session with kitemaker Reza Regheb. My break from moving data, was renewing my relationship with him. - Ali Fujino
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  • Announcing the Latest Issue of Discourse: From the End of the Line
    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.
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  • Defining the Wind
    I wasn't going to blog before going out the door to Guatemala, because I know that plenty will be written about the AKA Convention in Seaside, Oregon. Even thought the Drachen Foundation had a significant presence at the event - a workshop by Jose Sainz and Scott Skinner, great new kites by board member Martin Lester, and the debut of Gloria Stuart's Butterfly Kite Book - the Convention is about personal connections and that's what leads me to "the blog".
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  • Bird Kites: Raptors
    A new exhibition, "Birds, Birds, Birds" has just been installed at The World Kite Museum in Long Beach, Washington. It is an exhibit of "Western" bird kites, and is quite timely. Fall bird migration is at its peak on north-south flyways across the globe, and Washington State is a major thoroughfare for birds migrating south from the Arctic. Hearing about this exhibition spurred a look at all the kites in DF's Collection tagged with the keyword, "bird."
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  • Like an Infestation of Insects
    Come to one of the world's most loved kite festivals in Long Beach, Washington and join 100 Revolution sport kite fliers of all ages and skill levels, flying together on the beaches. This is another REV MEGA FLY and will feature the likes of team iQuad, the Decorators from England, as well as a host of international and domestic Rev stars. Find them on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday! There will be free Rev lessons on the beach. Watch for the iQuad team members.
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  • The finish to the beginning...
    Heather and Ivan Morison's visit to Open Satellite in Bellevue, Washington ended in a fine crescendo. Note the ground sculpture of the "Frost King" trees felled from a Bellevue city site, milled and transported to Tieton, Washington where they were "charred black" and returned to Open Satellite for a glorious installation. From here, Heather and Ivan will return to their home and begin the design of more sculptural kites to complement the work begun here in Bellevue.
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  • Bunyon-esque Kites
    Life is serendipitous, and it is usually a joy to where it takes us. In November, I had the opportunity to meet Yoko Ott (through a semi sweet 16 birthday party), Director of Open Satellite exhibition space in Bellevue, Washington. Her quick conversation with me brought forth a connection, Heather & Ivan Morison, world-renowned guest artists for the months of April and May. As good directors do, we jumped right in and headed to the finish line, detailing a collaborative project with the Drachen Foundation and Open Satellite.
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