BluesKites
Curated by renowned kite artist Terry Zee Lee in collaboration with Music Maker Foundation, Music Maker’s BluesKites is a celebration of American roots music featuring art kites designed by some of the nation’s leading kitemakers.
Each kite highlights an iconic blues musician from Music Maker’s roster of partner artists, including Winston-Salem bluesman Guitar Gabriel and eastern North Carolina luthier Freeman Vines (Hanging Tree Guitars). The selected musicians also appear in Music Maker’s 30th anniversary anthology, Song Keepers.
“Our job at Music Maker Foundation is to ensure that folks look up to the true pioneers of American roots music,” says Music Maker co-founder Denise Duffy. “What better way to accomplish that goal than to have these musicians soar the skies commemorated by our country’s finest kite artists?”
The large 6-sided kites measure approximately 6 feet by 4 feet and are modeled after traditional Japanese rokkaku kites. Each is fully functional and able to be flown. The exhibit includes kites by:
Ron Bohart (Music Maker Foundation Kite, Etta Baker, Beverly “Guitar” Watkins)
Rob Gibian (Ardie Dean)
Alexa King (Taj Mahal)
Mitch Cordover (Beverly “Guitar” Watkins)
Suzanne Sadow (Freeman Vines)
Deb Lenzen (Roots Kite)
BluesKites premiered at Telluride Blues & Brews Festival in September 2025 and will be displayed again this year at the festival’s Blues Stage.
Music Maker Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that preserves and promotes the musical traditions of the American South. Since 1994, they have worked to meet the day-to-day needs of the artists who create traditional American music, ensure their voices are heard, and give all people access to our nation’s hidden musical treasures. Get involved at musicmaker.org.
