5 . The custom of flying a piece of cloth high in the sky began more than 2,000 years ago in China. Since then, kites have been served in many fields, like doing scientific experiments, powering boats, taking pictures from the air and much more. In fact, kite-flying is a great way to clear the mind.

When Americans Kay and Larry Day found a store selling kites nearly 20 years ago, they decided to buy a few kites for their family. For fun, Larry bought one for himself. “He went out and flew it and decided he needed to go back and get a better one,” Kay remembered. Since then, she and her husband have loved kite-flying. They own many kites and plan trips around flying them. They also organize a kite-flying event each winter in their hometown in Iowa. “I’m at peace when I’m flying a kite,” said Larry.

Nic O’Neill, president of the American Kite-fliers Association said that kite-flying can be done alone or with friends and family. Kites appeal (有吸引力) to people who like to create works of art or to those who like to combine kite-flying with music. O’Neill said, “Part of the reason I love flying kites is that I have to risk trying and not succeeding. The best way to learn is to go out, undo the string (细绳) and let your kite fly. The perfect condition includes a nice steady wind and a place away from trees and buildings.”

Grant Lovett began flying simple kites as a child, but moved on to costlier and more complex kites as an adult. Today, Lovett likes making his own kites. He builds them from strong, lightweight materials and products designed for sailboats. Lovett attends kite-making classes and looks for new models on the Internet. He makes kites of different shapes and sizes because flying conditions can be greatly different. He also notes that experience makes a difference, and so does the weather and he likes the happy feelings that he experiences when his kite moves through the sky. “It is really calming,” he said.

6 . Children’s Art Exhibition 2022: Looking for Light

Exhibition time: March 25~ April 23, 2022

Theme-light in art:

.Artists play with light, both as a subject and as a tool.

.Light changes colors, creates shadow and is used to create space in pictures.

.Light can be used within a work of art. Special effects can be produced by the change between light and dark.

.In addition to making things visible, light can be used to inspire emotions.

.This exhibit shows how light is used to create effects within art.

People who can take part:

Kindergarten through eighth grade students may enter for this exhibition.

Requirements:

.Art pieces must be created between August 2021 and February 2022.

.The work must be no larger than 12cm×18cm.

.Only one work per person is accepted, including co-working artworks.

.Works are accepted from February 22 to March 11, 2022.

More information:

.Complete a form to make sure you have included a statement about how light is used in your piece. Attach it to the back of your artwork.

.Deliver your artwork to the Museum at 302 Second Avenue East, Kalispell, MT.

.Contact Kathy Martin, Director of Education, at 7555268 or email education@ hockadaymuseum.com with any questions about this exhibition.

.Students or their teachers may hand in artworks for this exhibition.

.The works selected for display are determined by how well they show the theme and the

quality of works.

Note: In order to help us create the best artworks, we ask teachers turning in artworks on behalf of their class to make a selection of artworks ahead of time to reduce too many of the same ones.

9 . Field Trips and School Tours

At Smithsonian American Art Museum, we involve students in the experience of viewing art and enable them to make meaningful connections to their curriculum and themselves. Students of all settings and ages are welcomed, from kindergarten to college.

Guided tours

Guided school tours require reservations. Please book at least one month in advance. One week before your visit, your guide will contact you to discuss your content and curriculum connections. To make a reservation, complete and submit the School Group Request Form.

Self-guided tours

With a self-guided visit, you are free to explore the collection in a way that best suits your class. For students in kindergarten through second grade, we suggest that you concentrate on a few objects. For older students, we recommend one hour of focused looking and thirty minutes of discussion about the artworks. Teachers are invited to consult with the museum staff regarding the content.

Guidelines for museum behavior

Review the guidelines before the visit. Inappropriate behavior may result in a shortened tour.

·Make no noise.

·Be considerate of other visitors and guides.

·Keep at least an arm’s length from artwork.

·Walk — don’t run — in the halls and stairways.

·Photography with flash is not permitted.

Security policies

Security check is required for all visitors. We recommend that groups leave bags on the bus or at school. Pocketknives, scissors, and other sharp tools are not permitted. To speed entry into the museum, carry as little as possible.