Creativity gap?
Mike from Chico was nice enough to post a link to this wonderful video over on the Kitebuilder.Com forum.
I confess, It’s not often that I watch a complete kite video that’s more than 30 seconds long. Even more rare for me to watch 17 minutes of it, and then search out more! I just found this spellbinding. Nice editing and well shot, but what kept me watching was the kites themselves.
The title of this post is “creativity gap” because it occurs to me, when I see photos or video of a big international festival, that there is indeed a creativity gap between the U.S. and the rest of the world. I’m talking here primarily of single-line kites. Watch the video and make note of all of the unique shapes and patterns of the kites.
I don’t mean to inflame, but as a kitemaker and kite enthusiast, it strikes me that the most original and creative stuff seems to be coming from outside the United States, in particular from Europe, as well as NZ and AU.
There seems, to my eye, to be a difference in the approach of kitemakers in the US vs. the rest of the world. Most of the US builders seem to be concerned primarily with decoration, i.e. – a cool graphic on a rokkaku, instead of exploring new forms. There are a some exceptional visual artists out there working on these proven platforms – John Pollock, Barbara Meyer and many others. My concern here is not with decoration, but with pushing the boundaries of shape and aerodynamics.
There are a few exceptions of course, such as George Peters (have I ever mentioned how much I miss George Peters?), Marc Ricketts, Joel Scholz, and Ron Gibian, as well as a few others. Ron’s still coming up with new and unique stuff, but Joel and George have left the scene. Marc’s all but departed from kites for greener pastures. Where are the new U.S. makers to rival the Ramlal Tiens, Robert Brasingtons, Kisas, Robert Trépaniers and Peter Lynns of the world?
Please don’t think that I don’t count myself as an American who has failed to pick up the baton. It’s been far too long since I’ve had a creativity spurt, and even those have been too tempered by time/dollars considerations. Time to let the mind wander a bit…
Is there a gap? Why? I welcome your comments!
Ken,
It’s odd, I had the same thoughts when I watched this video a few days ago. It struck me how so many of the kites were true works of art. The video was also put together nicely which doesn’t hurt.
I think, for sure, there is a gap, but that it is likely driven by consumers (as all things are here in the US). Recently, there has been little good to talk about considering the US economy. I do think if there is a bright side its that people seem to be getting back to basics and what is important. Perhaps that will also include taking some time to encourage and nurture more creativity in our culture as a whole.
-Tom
Those kites are really something! As for a creativity gap? Yes and no. I believe the problem is more systemic rather than being an individual one. The U.S., in general, tends to be more risk-averse when it comes to fostering creativity with the end result being a generalized deficiency in creative output.
I happen to be an Art Director for a design firm so I’ll speak to that. For graphic design specifically, the industry seemingly lags behind Europe and Asia in style by a couple of years. Often, something pops up in there then makes its way over when the populace “acclimates” to it. Although, for graphic design it’s more market-driven, the same underlying risk-aversion is a contributing cause to the lag. Now, that doesn’t apply to everything, certainly, but in a generalized way, it’s true.
That stereotype can also be applied to fine art, architecture, furniture design, automotive, and yes, kites, among other things.
Having said that, it’s not because we are less creative than they are. It’s because our culture of nurturing creativity is virtually nonexistent. We don’t dedicate nearly enough time or resources to effectively mold it into our way of being. There are a myriad of reasons behind this: we work too much; our consumer(ism) driven economy; the economy itself (although I believe this to be subject to swings of highs and lows); and a general predisposition away from creative activity and thought (it’s typically viewed as a luxury rather than a necessity).
Now, when I say the problem is “systemic”, consider this: A 2001 study showed the U.S. government dedicates $7 of direct spending per capita on the arts. Compare that to $91(US) in Finland and $85 in Germany. In fact, we fall just below Ireland who spends $9 per capita. Globally, those numbers have fluctuated due to the economy, but the scale generally remains the same.
Eventually, these contributing factors coalesce into noticeably less creative output, fewer innovative ideas, a weaker economy, and a generally low morale for the entire society. One only has to look at those nations who spend next to nothing on the arts to see my point.
To sum this up, yes, there is a creative gap. But it’s not that we’re less creative — it’s our approach to creativity in general. We need to do more as individuals, citizens, parents, teachers, businesses, etc. to foster creative activity and thinking. That includes realizing that creativity is a valuable asset both culturally and economically, and it means that we as a nation must devote more time and resources to it.
One doesn’t have to be an artist to be creative… you just have to cast aside what you think is impossible and move forward. Or, in the case of kites, upward!
So, how about a kite design contest sponsored by BMK? Not an actual kite, but rather a design/drawing of one. The most original wins… something.
Just an idea to get those creative juices flowing and for everyone to talk about. We’ll pull together a small panel of kite designers/fliers to be judges.
C’mon, Ken, what do you say!?
I find Normand Girard of Montreal to make interesting kites. I have a couple of links below.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38265903@N03/3519253895/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/2471946905_30d0ed50ba.jpg
http://thumb19.webshots.net/t/53/453/3/23/43/2188323430056124959pWbkSp_th.jpg
He also makes asymmetrical kites. I just can’t find a link at the moment.
Doug
The last link should have been:
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2188323430056124959pWbkSp
Thanks Doug, very cool stuff indeed!
I agree with Greg (EnergonCube) about it being culture, but I wonder if it’s also a matter of geography. For me, my most creative periods have been those when I’ve been surrounded by creative people. It rarely happens in isolation.
I don’t think it’s enough to be exposed to it on the web. I think real inspiration is personal. It’s an odd-ball idea thrown out over a beer. Or seeing a color combination that absolutely shouldn’t work come alive in the sky, and then thinking that maybe you’ve been playing it too safe.
I wonder how many these great kites were made by people that belong to a “creativity pocket”? Where are these pockets, and how can we foster them?
i think that there are a few factors
there major manufacturers are trying to push out as many artistic designs on each platform as possible.
they have burned some of the kite makers who decided to work with them….
some makers are coming back…Scott Hampton is a great example of that…..he pulled back in about 2003-4….and is starting to make more stuff….not on the same level of speed…but he is making stuff….
George Peters just made a bunch of kites….will he sell them??? dunno….hope so….
maybe it is also the American feeling of “i cannot fail”…what would happen if it didn’t fly???
i would love to see some more specific kite building competitions….get the word out there that you can make the stuff……
what about those kite makers who were sweeping the competitions…every year….or multiple times the same convention…there are only so many times you WANT to win….Ed Shenk…i remember one convention someone yelling at him to just stay on the stage so that he did not have to walk back and forth so much…..(i did hear that he might be active again quietly as well)…..
dare i say that the AKA has had a hand in this? and how they have changed over the years has affected & effected kite building
another big thing is the prevalence of more kite shops closing….or just going online…people used to walk into High Flyers pore through the fittings for an hour….and get 4 rods some fittings and maybe some fabric……
nowadays who wants to pay shipping for 4 rods???
i have always watched online photo albums from European festivals to get an idea of what is coming….and then gone shopping for them….that was part of my job when the shop i worked at was open…bringing in new stuff….i loved it!!!
http://picasaweb.google.com/abarquix/Penvins2008#5226260017498531362 & http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZSs2bX_YSduBVVAVqqo8FQ?feat=directlink hmmmmm what were they thinking when they made these???i have no clue…but they came out just fine…and look cool!!!and fly too!
i do not have enough in my mind to get out and create things…i always excelled at selling the fun kites…so my comments here are my .02$ and from my experiences….
What about Christene and Daniel up in Canada? they are working hard up there……
http://www.lcvs.ca/
(waiting on my McBird from them right now)
I still remember when Normand walked onto the field at the 2003 Newport Festival…and started pulling out kites he had made…..he had just decided to come to the festival the day before and drove down from Quebec….and was floored that we all loved his designs….(took home 7 orders for 7 shields! http://picasaweb.google.com/corgimas/CoolKitingPictures#5338412958310674034 )
Normand does have a shop out there…sells lots of sport kites…nothing on his website about his own kites though….
but what about people like Randy Shannon? Bobby Stanfield? Stan Swanson? Scott and i have discussed many times “where the heck did these guys go?” (granted he did not want to admit that his name would be on that list as well) some of them life just moved along but no one stepped up to fill that hole…..
I like Christine and Daniel’s stuff as well. Some of their stuff when they came to visit us in Toronto:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougish1954/3503164206/in/set-72157617709522434/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougish1954/3503165464/in/set-72157617709522434/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougish1954/3503170340/in/set-72157617709522434/
Doug
Not sure if this would be a good contest for BMK, but I like the idea.