Kites are most commonly found in parks, beaches or suburban sidewalks, but these designs would be more at home on the walls of a gallery.
Gabriel Fredericks Cohen and Jolie Mae Signorile, the duo who designed and created the flying works of art, share a common love of materials and a fascination with global history. Their company, Fredericks and Mae, also sells classic “war games,” such as bocce, dominos and darts. They even cite each object with a date and a country of origin.
Of the inspiration for the kites, Cohen says: “The designs are born of our interest in ambiguous historical origins, colonialism, myths, symbols and reverence.” The concept behind the Floralia kite (pictured below and at right) is drawn from the Roman holiday of the same name, which honors the goddess of flowers and spring. Made of bamboo, rice paper and pressed flowers, the Floralia is not designed for flight.
For more practical alternatives, try the Morning, Noon and Night kites. Their graphic silkscreened patterns make them the perfect mid-summer park accessory.
