Oriental kite makers have understood the symbolic significance of kites for a long time and for centuries have built and flown painted kites on a variety of auspicious occasions, both religious and secular. National and regional kite styles emerged. The kite’s sails have been used to display all manner of folk imagery or religious symbols. Inspired by such traditions, absent in Western culture, many of Norman’s kites are created especially to celebrate some event or idea, even if it is simply the idea of flight itself. He explores various pictorial and symbolic themes, some traditional, some biblical, others are from nature or the imagination.

There are kiting organizations in many countries for the promotion of kite making and kite flying. Kite festivals, some with thousands of participants, allow anyone to join in the fun, where an easy-flying kite might introduce some eager youngster to kiting. But kites are more, and any teacher who believes in interdisciplinary studies will find that as a classroom project, the making and flying of kites will teach many skills, scientific, artistic, and social alike. It may even inspire some to become aviators later in life.

Here are plans for a basic “diamond” kite you can download and build for yourself, the kite Norman has most often used in workshops. Or purchase Norman’s books and make all kinds of things that fly (see Papercraft Books page).

Unfortunately, poor health keeps Norman from enjoying kite flying as much as he would like, and his kites are likely to be seen displayed indoors rather than in the air.