FlyNY 09 - Kite Competition

FlyNY is an international design competition is open to architects, artists, engineers, and designers. Participants will present their original designs at a public kite flying event on Pier I in Riverside Park along the Hudson River on May 9, 2009. The event will include kite-making and kite-flying lessons for community children who will be taught basic principles of design. Creative director Aurelie Paradiso stated that “Designing and building a kite, like a building, involves an understanding of structure, proportion, craft, and function. Form and function are inextricably intertwined and constructability is paramount. Kites use wind energy to perform, creating the opportunity for a discussion of sustainability in design and performance.”

Competition participants will be asked to donate their original kites for a public exhibition and auction of distinguished designs at the Knoll showroom on May 28th. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the New York Affiliate of Architecture for Humanity (AFHny), a non-profit organization devoted to providing free architectural services to underserved communities.

Project director Victoria Walsh stated that “FlyNY gives architects the opportunity to share their talent with the community, participate in a dialogue about design and design limitations, and contribute to a great cause. Participants, architects and the public alike will enjoy the rare opportunity to “build” their designs in a world-renowned context – the New York City skyline.” Marketing director Hannah Purdy adds, “The kite auction gives us all an opportunity to own an original design by a famous architect or artist. While you may not be able to afford a Frank Gehry house, you may be able to afford a Frank Gehry kite!”

FlyNY is soliciting monetary and in-kind donations from corporate sponsors. Interested parties should contact {encode="[email protected]" title="Victoria Walsh"} at FlyNY. For further information on the kite design contest, kite flying event, and kite auctions, visit http://www.FlyNY.org. For further information on Architecture for Humanity New York, visit http://www.afhny.org.

FlyNY 2009 is being held in partnership with the New York City Parks Department. This event is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency and Van Alen Institute: Projects in Public Architecture.