CFN – Celebrate Earth Day 2012 at the Benson Centre, Cornwall, at 2 p.m., with Kite Master, Gerard Piette. Gerard flew his first kite, a used one, in 2009, while he was searching for an outdoor hobby. He was immediately hooked.
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He soon moved from repairing kites to building them and the challenges of getting and keeping them airborne have made him an expert on weather and wind as well as construction. Gerard has a range of kites, from simple to ultra-complex which he will display on April 22. He has twice won top honours at the Cornwall Kite Festival, first for the biggest kite and another for the most environmentally progressive kite. The latter was made entirely of found materials like spars from an old umbrella skeleton and a sail made from a dry cleaning bag. That kite drifted over the Bowl in Lamoureux Park, shooting video and photos all day.
Gerard is always experimenting. Early on, he hung a small camera from a kite to make an airborne movie and excerpts will be incorporated into his talk at the Benson Centre. A resident of Casselman, Gerard is a craftsman, artist and kite enthusiast who will engage all ages with his presentation of kiting how-to’s, aerial movies, a kite display and, weather permitting, a demonstration.
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Gerard is an ambassador for kiting as a do-it-yourself hobby with limitless possibilities, like nature itself:
“Being in the wind is being close to nature and brings me the freedom I last felt as a small boy. Understanding weather, identifying birds, watching the kite ride the waves, all of this is part of the fun of kiting.”
Gerard’s presentation is sponsored by the Parade of Nations, which hosts the annual Cornwall Kite Festival and which is proud to present Gerard and his kites to Cornwall on Earth Day.
