Artisan
Kites, Wondrous Kites
Beauty and grace in the sky
By Jennifer Mellace
Photography by Noel Kline
For centuries, the grace and beauty of kite flying has captivated people of all ages, all walks of life and all nationalities. From young children running circles in their backyards to grown men and women spending hundreds of dollars on competition sport kites, the allure of the kite is often quite intense.
Such was the case for Rick Harmer of Wrightsville. “My wife and I were on our honeymoon in Chincoteague in 1997 when I bought my first kite,” recalls Harmer. “We saw people flying them, and, with the pocket money from our reception, we thought ‘Let’s go buy one.’ I remember walking in to the local kite shop and seeing these beautiful, high-end kites selling for $180. I wasn’t going to spend that, so I picked out a $35 kite and thought ‘This will work.’ A half-hour later I was back buying a $180 kite and shortly after that, my wife went back to get another.
I’ve been flying ever since.”
And this September, Harmer will be just one of many kite enthusiasts descending upon Gettysburg for the 31st Annual Convention of the American Kitefliers Association (AKA).
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