This international design competition is open to architects, artists, engineers, and designers who will participate in a public kite flying event scheduled for April 18, 2009 in Central Park. The event will include kite-making and kite-flying lessons for community children who will be taught basic principles of design. Creative director Aurelie Paradiso stated that “Designing and building a kite, like a building, involves an understanding of structure, proportion, craft, and function. Form and function are inextricably intertwined and constructability is paramount. Kites use wind energy to perform, creating the opportunity for a discussion of sustainability in design and performance.”

Competition participants will be asked to donate their original designs to FlyNY for an auction to raise funds for Architecture for Humanity New York – a non-profit service organization that contributes architectural design services to underserved communities in the New York metropolitan area. The silent auction will be held during an exhibit of the kites that is being scheduled for May 2009. The date and venue will be determined.

Project director Victoria Walsh stated that “FlyNY gives architects the opportunity to share their talent with the community, participate in a dialogue about design and design limitations, and contribute to a great cause. Participants, architects and the public alike will enjoy the rare opportunity to “build” their designs in a world-renowned context – the New York City skyline.” Marketing director Hannah Purdy adds, “The kite auction gives us all an opportunity to own an original design by a famous architect or artist. While you may not be able to afford a Frank Gehry house, you may be able to afford a Frank Gehry kite!”

FlyNY is soliciting monetary and in-kind donations from corporate sponsors. Interested parties should contact at FlyNY. For further information on the kite design contest, kite flying event, and kite auctions, visit http://www.FlyNY.org. For further information on Architecture for Humanity New York, visit http://www.afhny.org.

This event is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency and Van Alen Institute: Projects in Public Architecture. 

Share/Save:    Bookmark on Bustler &               

Bookmarked by: Nobody has bookmarked this entry yet!