Inspiration!
We commissioned ten makers to create their own kite using the kits. Each was selected for a different skillset – whether that be experience in textiles, collage, screen-printing, graphic design, architectural drawing etc. so there’s a great mix of styles and references to get inspired by. All live or have a connection to the borough. Below are ten short films made by each maker where they talk about their process, as they show you step by step how they created their designs.
Korantema Anyimadu – The Protest Kite: All Black Lives Matter
Korantema Anyimadu is a freelance and independent curator working in heritage and the arts. She makes collages and zines celebrating black women, hair and heritage. Her kite, using these techniques becomes a protest kite, in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign. She uses the symbol of the greek goddess of justice; Themis as the central figure of her kite.
CLICK TO WATCH
Korantema.com
@black.hair.stories
Stephen Mackie – The ‘Psychogeography’ Map Kite
Stephen Mackie is a local Walthamstow Resident, and is one half of the architectural practice Seán and Stephen. They work on a wide range of projects, from domestic extensions and multi-unit residential developments through to affordable co-working spaces, permanent public artworks, temporary museum installations, and high street regeneration projects.
For his kite design he takes us through the idea of Psychogeography – a way of exploring an urban area through being led by the things that intrigue you. Watch his process as he creates a personal map of Walthamstow through his eyes.
CLICK TO WATCH
seanandstephen.com
@sean_and_stephen
Zarah Hussain – The Geometric Potato Print Kite
Zarah Hussain is an artist who works at the intersection of science and spirituality, combining contemporary digital art with rigorous training in traditional hand-drawn Islamic geometry. Her work encompasses infinitely looping animations made with code, interactive apps, painting and sculpture. Zarah lives locally and has worked with makers based at the workshop to fabricate some of her past projects. For her kite design she shows you how you can use potato printing to create simple and complex geometric patterns on your kite.
CLICK TO WATCH
www.zarahhussain.co.uk
@zarahkhussain
Hannah Ford – The Community Heroes Kite
Hannah Ford is a banner maker and uses reclaimed fabric with hand-sewing, hand and machine-embroidery, and painted textiles to illustrate scenes and tell stories in her work that are mostly political in nature. Hannah dedicates her Kimono Kite to Jason Filintras, a frontline NHS nurse, Saira Mir of PL84U Al-Suffa; Tracey Rogers of Highams Park Food Aid; Guy Wilson of Parker Project Homeless Shelter; Kirstin Sibley, Community Champion, Morrison’s; and Mike Huckaby, from Detroit, RIP.
CLICK TO WATCH
www.invisiblenumbers.co.uk/
@invisiblenumbers
Lauren Wilson & Adam Vaudin – The World of Apu – Satyajit Ray Inspired Kite
Lauren Wilson is an artist and metalwork tutor based at Blackhorse Workshop. Together with fellow artist Adam Vaudin also based in Walthamstow, they have created a kite inspired by The Apu Trilogy – a series of Bengali films directed by Indian film maker Satyajit Ray.
CLICK TO WATCH
www.laurenlwilson.com
www.adamvaudin.com
@Lauren_wilson_studio
@sunkenpumpkinglow
Dominique Golden – The Family Tree Kite
Dominique Golden is a multimedia artist who works with drawing, film and musical score. Her design is a tribute to her family tree on her mother’s side. Dedicated to her ‘Gram and Grandad’, their names are hidden in the folds of the kite. The design for the kite is inspired by the symmetry of her Mother’s family tree, where two of everything are common themes. It features an image of a flute which she plays and graphic score patterns inspired by Cornelius Cardew to reference the sound of the kite in the wind. Family pets are used to represent family figures, and a troop of horses with overlapping colours to show the union of the family. She has applied her design using felt tips and collage, embellishing with ribbon, feathers and a hair piece for streamers.
CLICK TO WATCH
www.dominiquegolden.co.uk
@dominique.golden
Daniel Heath & Laura Perryman – The Kiss we Miss Kite
Daniel Heath is an award winning locally based independent wallpaper, textile and surface designer renowned for his illustrative and engaging designs.
His kite has been made using hand cut stencils and screenprinted. Dedicated to his late father who was a nurse, and his sister and her husband who are both key workers, the inspiration for his kite is to send a message of love and togetherness and to talk about the things we’ve missed during this period of lockdown.
CLICK TO WATCH
www.danielheath.co.uk
@danielheathstudio
@lauraemilyp
Lauren Edmondson – The Graphic Kite
Lauren is a freelance painter and maker. After completing a degree in Graphic Design, and craving work that was more 3D and practical, she began working for Set Designers, Mural Painters, Artists, and Visual Merchandisers, and became involved with Blackhorse during the Sideshow project in 2017. Her kite is dedicated to her mum, and incorporates her mum’s initials into the overall graphic approach.
CLICK TO WATCH
Adam Azmy – ‘The hugs that can’t be had’ Kite
Adam Azmy is a film visual effects designer and maker who works out of his studio, Azmy Anything, at Blackhorse Workshop. Azmy Anything is a bespoke design and furniture studio creating custom pieces that satisfyingly solve problems. Adam’s credits in visual effects include blockbusters Gravity and Avatar, which both won a VFX Oscar and BAFTA. For his kite design, Adam shows the lengths he had to go to capture a ‘free hug’ and sometimes using a tool for something it wasn’t intended can produce unique results
CLICK TO WATCH
azmyanything.com
@azmy_anything
Misbah Siddique – The Dandelion Kite
Misbah Siddique is an artist and maker working with a range of materials. Her interest lies in the natural world, the mind and analogue processes. The Dandelion Kite was inspired by long walks in the local park taken during the lockdown. The park was left to get overgrown which led to fields of dandelions and daisies. The Dandelion Kite was made to commemorate an important part of our recent history, using a plant that transforms over time and has healing, medicinal qualities. The kite was made using paper cut outs and spare kite material that was used to make floaty dandelion seed heads.
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