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KITE MAKING From Weifang, China
Interactive Videoconference for all ages, June 2, 2023, 8:50 am EDT
Learn how to make a kite! A live interactive video conference on June 2 at 8:50 am EDT will teach a traditional kite making technique from China.
This workshop features Liu Zhiliang, a traditional kite maker from Weifang, China. Free registration is available at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3rIq2X04S_WxQlUqFNMocw. This event is provided by World Artists Experiences (WAE).
Mr. Liu Zhijiang is a 4th generation kite maker of the Weifang kite technique and founder of Flying Kite Studio which is devoted to creating traditional and modern kites.
Participants who wish to construct a kite during the presentation should have the following materials available for interactive kite making:
· Skeleton: Either bamboo, fiberglass or carbon fiber sticks. The outer diameter should be 2mm-1.5mm, and the length of one should be 28cm and the other of 38cm.
· Surface: Tyvek or similar paper measuring 28cm×38cm
· Utility knife
· Ruler
· Color pen or marker
· White latex or white emulsion glue
· Polyester thread
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A Brief Introduction to Mr. LIU Zhijiang
Mr. LIU Zhijiang, born in Weifang, China in 1973, is the fourth generation inheritor of Weifang traditional kite-making. He is now an Arts and Crafts Master of Weifang City, the Head of Kite R&D Center at Weifang Arts and Crafts Association, Supervisor of Weifang Kite Association, Supervisor of Weifang Kite Sports Association, Head of Weifang Arts and Crafts Association, Member of Weifang Intangible Cultural Protection Association, Founder of Ban Mo Fang Kite Studio, Resident Kite Expert of Weifang World Kite Museum, National First-class Kite Referee, National Level Social Sports Instructor, a professional technical leader and specially hired kite skills and painting instructor in traditional ethnic skills (kite)--the first kite major (associate degree) in China with Langfang Polytechnic Institute. Mr. Liu was admitted to the first professional kite school in China in 1989. After graduation, he worked as Head of Exhibition Design Department, Weifang Kite Research Institute, International Kite Association, focusing on kite designs and exhibition development. He served as the manager of Kite Exhibition Development Center at Weifang Kite Association in 1999, organizing and planning many different kite cultural exchange activities like kite competition exhibition and also serving as judge and referee for various domestic and international competitions. In 2005, he founded Flying Kite Studio, devoting to creating and making traditional and modern kites. Numerous works of his have won awards in domestic and international competitions and his kites have won great popularity both at home and abroad. He directed to reduplicate and repair plenty of exhibiting kites and planned to exhibit “China Traditional Kite Gallery”. Among which, the giant 100 meter Cobra King Snake soft kite designed and developed has won the highest award of the Weifang International Kite Festival - Best Innovative Class and Best Air Effect Award. The traditional kite made into the form of dragon-head and centipede-skeleton produced has won the most popular award in the National Handicraft Competition, Dancing and Throwing Shadows have won the Best Kite Making Performance Award at the 2018 National Kite Championships (Yixing), and the original traditional wooden kite series kite - Fengque - has won the first prize in the fourth National Traditional Kite Making Competition in 2019, The Wooden Kite Series - Wooden Kite Source won the gold medal in the 2020 China Kite Creative Design Competition. The "China Space Station" themed kite designed and produced in 2022 was successfully flown, attracting great attention and being reported by mainstream domestic and international media, enhancing the reputation and widespread attention of Weifang kites and folk art promotion. In recent years, he has been committed to the creation and design of traditional kite techniques, and actively participated in the promotion and inheritance of kite culture activities. He has served as a training instructor for the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education, and Intangible Cultural Heritage techniques multiple times, and has been appointed as a visiting professor of kite techniques by multiple educational institutions. Currently, he is the head of the Weixian Traditional Kite Making and Inheritance Center in Banmofang, a project for the protection of intangible cultural heritage, Lecturer in charge of the Weifang Internship and Training Base for Ethnic Traditional Skills (Kite Direction) at Langfang Polytechnic Institute, and head of the Kite Creation Art Center for Graduates of Weifang Kite Technical School.
WAE YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuNk5SRPIcpB1BdViPIeOaA
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YOU are the heart and soul of World Artists Experiences!!!
YOU are…
- fantastic audiences, young and old;
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Together bringing experiences of welcoming, dialoguing, learning, presenting, caring for friends who come from all over the world…both live and virtually.
THANK YOU for giving of yourselves so thoughtfully and generously.
Our Friends from around the world wrote to YOU:
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TOGETHER…We can make a difference in our tumultuous world.
We Hope you will consider:
- continue to give us ideas for meeting the challenges using the arts as our international language;
- exploring new and better avenues to build mutual understanding, respect, trust, and peace;
- finding new caregivers to bridge the people and cultures of our world.
World Artists Experiences needs YOU!
On behalf of all of us, may you have a beautiful and joyous holiday season, and your New Year be filled with joy, peace, and love,
Betty McGinnis, President
& the Board of Directors ,World Artists Experiences
World Artists Experiences bridges people and cultures across the continents.
HOPEFULNESS….. Virtual platforms kept WAE alive AND opened new avenues. Artists offered fresh ideas and gratitude for WAE. Audiences anticipate the human touch. We are reminded by people everywhere of the great need to bridge our world. We hope that you will continue to support WAE with your time, talents and resources.
GRATEFULNESS….. We express heartfelt gratitude to faithful, caring and committed volunteers, friends around the world for their encouragement, and to our generous donors for their financial and other support.
THOUGHTFULNESS…..With your inspiration, ideas, kindness, and talents, the important work of bringing people and cultures closer by dialoguing, forming friends around the world, and dialoguing to build trust, respect and peace using the art as our bridge will continue.
Thank you for your creativity, kindness, support and embracing World Artists Experiences. We, together, will continue to bridge our fragile world for mutual cultural understanding. On behalf of all of us, may your holidays be filled with joy and beauty and your New Year with good health and peace.
Betty McGinnis and
The Board of Directors
World Artists Experiences
World Artists Experiences (WAE) is a non-profit organization that builds bridges for international understanding through cultural and citizen diplomacy in communities, colleges, and schools in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and nearby states. Since 2003 WAE has partnered with over 125 countries to present diverse and rich cultures through a variety of experiences.
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Ambassador Series: The Ambassador Series sponsors performances by renowned artists that represent their country and culture. Experiences include music, dance, poetry, visual arts, and other art forms. They are held in numerous communities. Each Community has a WAE Ambassador Team to organize the experience in a giving and receiving relationship in their communities, including welcoming, hosting, and presenting the artists. Ambassador Series events are free to the public.
Cultural Immersion Experiences: Cultural Immersions are day-long experiences designed to give an in-depth understanding of the people and cultures of a country or region of the world. Each day is filled with embassy visits, exhibitions, museum visits, concerts, and food from the country or region. The experiences are educational and are designed for schools, colleges, and organizations.
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• Workshops. Workshops are conducted for educators and students to encourage creative writing on international and inter-cultural themes. Professional credits are often awarded.
• Visual Dialogue and Cultural Exchanges. Students in the United States and other countries are encouraged to exchange artwork and open dialogues.
• International Education Month. WAE promotes November as International Education Month with ideas and activities for communities, schools, and colleges. WAE works with Maryland’s Secretary of State to issue the Governor’s proclamation of International Education Month.
Bridges to the World Film Festival: Each February and March WAE screens films from five countries in communities throughout Maryland. The films are provided by the embassies. They are free to the public.
Advising and Consulting: Upon request, WAE advises and consults with organizations, schools, colleges, and others on cultural and citizen diplomacy.
GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS: WAE works with embassies in the United States. The embassies arrange for their country’s artists to perform in the United States through their cultural exchange programs. WAE may work directly with Ministries of Culture and Education and with International Organizations.
DATE FOUNDED: WAE was incorporated in the State of Maryland October 1, 2002. The first season was 2003-2004. Seasons run from July 1 to June 30 of the following year.
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CONTACT: World Artists Experiences, PO Box 9753, Arnold, MD 21012; phone: 410-647-4481; email:
wae@comcast.net; Webpage: www.WorldArtists.org.
06/2020
World Artists Experiences (WAE) is a non-profit organization that builds bridges for international understanding through cultural and citizen diplomacy in communities, colleges, and schools. In its 12-year history, WAE has partnered with over one hundred fifteen countries around the world to present their diverse and rich culture through numerous experiences.
