American Faces #107 - Go fly a kite

American Faces No. 107

I guess as a 55 year old commercial photographer I am regressing into my childhood. Stay with me on this though. I’ve always thought kites were fascinating, cool and attention grabbing, no matter how simple or ornate, from as young as I can remember. Here’s where a man named David H. who makes wonderfully simple kites comes into the story. David is a calm demeanored, inviting and talkative man who lives in Minnetonka, Minnesota; the very place he worked for decades as an elementary school teacher. This 80+ year old man is still a teacher at heart as he has taught children and adults alike to make kites that not only fly well but allow for creative expression to whatever one's mind can create.

-Continued Below-

David’s kites aren’t made from silk, nylon or some high level sail cloth with a hefty cost; they are made from plastic bags found in the Minneapolis metro area. There are many colors of bags that each kite builder can choose from in the kite kits David assembles. Each kit has dowels, string, and all the necessities to bring structure and make the kites flight ready. I could sense the old educator in this soft spoken man. He told me about the flight properties of what he calls a sled kite as well as guided me through the kite making process step-by-step. He showed me patterns of dragons, unicorns and other line drawings to suit just about anyone's fancy. Along with kite kits, markers are provided to add individuality and artistic touches to your kite at David’s kite making workshops. He talked of his times with people young and old, groups that were large and small who came to the workshops he has been asked to lead all around Minnesota. I could hear his joy as he told me about people building kites, creatively embellishing the kite and then flying them.

Kites are just fun and even simple kites can put a smile on people's faces no matter if they are 20 feet off the ground or one hundred feet high into a bright blue sky. David, now well into his 80’s has helped mold the lives of many people by being an educator, kite maker, workshop leader and just a good guy.

So how do I close this one? Go have fun! Take your daughter, son, nephew, niece, grand-daughter, grandson, friend or neighbor and go fly a kite. Laugh and just live. Pretty sure you won’t regret it. I promise.

Photos and story by: Nielsen Studios

Editing by: Cristine Nielsen

Portfolio