Otis Kite Festival returns to Santa Monica
The annual Otis Kite Festival creates a “gallery in the sky” on the beach alongside Santa Monica Pier
Photo by Allison Knight
Art takes to the sky near Santa Monica Pier on Saturday with the Otis College of Art and Design’s annual Kite Festival.
This year, the free family-friendly event honors the life of celebrated Disney animator Tyrus Wong, who created the look of “Bambi.” Also featured are flying creations by mixed-media artist Melanie Walker and sculptor George Peters, stylized kites by kite craftsman Ron Gibian, and stunt kites by Revolution Sport Kite Team cofounder Kevin Bayless.
But public participation is crucial to creating this annual “gallery in the sky,” which showcases an aerial mosaic of handcrafted and homemade kites swirling through the air. It’s up to you to pop on down to the beach, pick up a kite-making kit, get some basic design instruction and launch your creation into the sky.
Kids ages 5 to 17 can also take part in the Los Angeles County Public Library’s mobile MakMo learning van, which will be demonstrating STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) experiments. Additional creative workshops for the whole family add an A for art to turn STEM into STEAM.
— Christina Campodonico
Otis College of Art and Design’s 6th annual Kite Festival honoring Tyrus Wong happens from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, on the beach adjacent to the Santa Monica Pier. Free. otis.edu