The Shavit Kite Gallery

The History of the Hebrew Word for Kite

2021-04-13T10:25:00.005+03:00

A fantastic article (in Hebrew) about the history of the Hebrew word for kite and multiple alternative proposals that never caught on.

Feathered Star - 2019

2019-10-05T17:44:00.000+03:00

Feathered Star Patchwork Technique

approx. 2.4m point-to-point.

From paper sketch...

... to the final kite:

Patchwork Kites: Lecture to the Israeli Quilters Association - 2019

2019-09-09T18:07:00.000+03:00

Shula was guest speaker at the 2019 Israeli Quilters Association Workshops

Picasso Meets Sewing Machine Artists - Fanø 2018

2018-12-31T16:16:00.000+02:00

kite.builders has an article about our Fanø Kitemakers Workshop.

"...Meanwhile, the men tried the sewing machines. Eli and Shula Shavit from Israel taught the "Tessellating Pinwheels Ohashi Sail Design" in their workshop as part of the Fanø Kitemakers. That sounds complicated and it is - until you know how it works. 17 participants participated in the workshop at the Fanø school, where six kites were completed at the workshop and the remaining kites completed at home."

More photos from the workshop can be seen here.

Thing 1 and Thing 2 - 2018

2018-12-30T16:11:00.000+02:00

Flying Saucers - diameter is ~ 1.9 m

The kites are inspired by Jim Rawlands' FLYING SAUCER kite

which is based on a design by Jacques Zanni published in Le Lucane

Interview - 2018

2018-12-29T16:55:00.000+02:00

Our interview with Ralf Dietrich from kite.builders.

Kite Reunion

2018-06-21T15:11:00.000+03:00

We had an opportunity for a kiteflyers reunion with old friends!
From left-to-right: Shula Shavit, Suli Omer, Itamar Kastelanski, Uri Abeles (author of the 1991 kite book "Afifomania"), Eli Shavit

Fanø Kitemakers Workshop - Fanø 2018

2018-06-14T16:19:00.000+03:00

We were honored to be invited to teach a Patchwork Kite Masterclass during the 2018 Fanø Kitefliers Meeting in Denmark. We chose a Tessellating Pinwheels design for an Ohashi style kite. Eighteen participants worked hard during the 9 hour workshop and by the end of the day, there were 5 complete kites. With diligent participants working late, we had twelve kites in the sky the following day.

Inspiring Others

2018-06-13T15:43:00.000+03:00

Pete Schmidt was inspired by our Bedspread kite. He called his creation "The Shavit Kite".

We are immensely proud, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

...and our version

Arabian Nights - 2018

2018-03-01T15:21:00.000+02:00

From paper to sky

The Israel Museum Homepage - 2017

2017-10-09T10:09:00.001+03:00

The 32nd Kite Flying Festival, The Afifoniada, at the Israel Museum is tomorrow, and we made the front page!

and on mobile with the distinguished company of Ai Weiwei:

Patchwork and Kites Puzzle - 2017

2017-09-05T10:13:00.002+03:00

When we came upon Jane Wooster Scott's Patchwork Sampler 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle, we just had to assemble it. Kites and Patchwork, that's so Shavit!

A Kite Quote

2017-09-01T17:48:00.003+03:00

A lovely quote from Romain Gary's book Les Cerfs-Volants (The Kites):

It's perfectly clear that a man that has devoted his whole life to kites is not without a grain of folly. It's just a question of interpretation. There are some who call it a 'grain of folly', and others who talk of a 'sacred spark'. It's sometimes hard to tell one from the other.

(Translated by Philip Le Riche)

Octagon - 2017

2017-07-04T11:30:00.005+03:00

The Pattern of the kite is called "Star of the Orient" Quilt Pattern.

The kite's diameter is ~ 1.2m

Geo-Pointer - 2017

2017-07-04T11:27:00.000+03:00

The Geo Pointer kite, designed by Ceewan is a Single Point Bridle kite.

Size: 5.5m x 2m

Cervia - 2017

2017-05-21T11:14:00.002+03:00

Fabulous photos from Cervia ARTEVENTO 2017 by Ivan Cimadoro

And another from Barbara Baroncini

Twisted Drum Box Kite - 2017

2017-01-22T09:40:00.003+02:00

Here's our version of Dick Toonen's Twisted Drum Box Kite.

Note that our version uses only vertical strips as opposed to the regular triangular sections.

Little White World Kite - 2016

2016-11-11T16:13:00.000+02:00

Flying the signed Little White World Kite at the annual Kite Flying event at the Art Garden of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. The kite is flying over Robert Indiana's renowned giant sculpture "אהבה".

Our Booth at Dieppe International Kite Festival - 2016

2016-11-11T15:54:00.007+02:00

Hamsa - 2016

2016-11-11T15:54:00.003+02:00

Our entry into the Arts Premiers kite creation contest at the 2016 Dieppe International Kite Festival.

Spinnaker on transparent Mylar

Rosie, Emoji Kite - 2016

2016-11-11T15:54:00.001+02:00

Our contribution to the "Personage" Mass Ascension Challenge

Jellybean Hamsa - 2016

2016-11-11T15:31:00.002+02:00

Gaudí Rok - 2016

2016-11-11T15:31:00.000+02:00

A Rok inspired by the Trencadís mosaic style of Spanish Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí.

Bubble Fish Ohashi Edo - 1994/2015

2016-11-11T15:19:00.001+02:00

Originally built in 1994 for a Sea-Themed kite competition.

Rebuilt and re-bridled Ohashi-style in 2015.

Nylon fabric applique.

Graphic taken from illustration in the amazing, out-of-print book

The Witch's Hat by Irvin Dremer, Illustrated by Tony Meeuwissen

Le Grand Livre du Cerf-Volant, G. Spini - 2003

2016-10-20T12:21:00.001+03:00

It has just come to our attention that the French kite book "Le Grand Livre du Cerf-Volant" by G. Spini has a photo of our Bargenki Kite!