High-Flying Art Soars At Festival Billings Professor’s Kite Takes First-Place Prize

An art professor here captured first place in a kite competition sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution.

John Pollock, art chairman at Montana State University-Billings, created a kite titled “Life With and Without Direction.”

His flying work of art took top honors in the adult kite maker, single-surface kite division of the Smithsonian Kite Festival held recently in Washington, D.C.

Pollock swept the competition at a kite festival last year in Havre, but the Smithsonian’s showcasing of hand-crafted kites was his first time in the big leagues.

His two-part kite is a vibrant mix of purple, pink, green, blue and orange hues hand-painted on nylon.

Pollock began combining his artistic talent and his interest in kites about six years ago.

“I decided as an adult it was OK to fly a kite,” he said.

He got so interested in making kites that he bought a sewing machine to replace one that lacked the features he wanted.

Pollock has made about 40 kites, some of which hang in his studio.