Popular Guyanese kite making artist Trevor Smith, has been at his favorite spot, Regent and Camp Streets, in the capital city of Georgetown, since March 15, to vend his star-point creations that have kept him busy for 40 years.
Smith told this reporter on Monday, that because he experienced an early sell out of kites in 2019, he decided to increase his production to meet the demands he was expecting in 2020. Unfortunately, the coronavirus sidelined the artisan and left him with three-quarter of the 1500 kites he had hoped to sell back then.
However, Smith’s spirit was not daunted. He said he embraced his energy, and noted that he had to be in his normal place of business, as such, in spite of the coronavirus protocols, he came to his special spot in March 2020, an action that helped him to keep his sanity, but not make him a profit.
But alas, all was not lost for Smith, who usually starts the process of kite-making a year ahead. The astute businessman stored the kites away in a safe place, and today, supporters are flocking to pickup their favorite star-point, to hoist in the sky over the Easter weekend.
The vendor expressed his appreciation, to buyers who have already purchased approximately 200 kites. One donor alone bought 100 kites to be gifted to underprivileged children.
With Easter Monday on the horizon, April 5, and despite COVID-19 mandates in place, kite lovers will rush to get their choice design on Holy Thursday, Good Friday or even Easter Saturday, said Smith.
The designs are available in 18, 20, and 24 inches all reasonably priced, said Smith, who insisted that he did not increase the price of the kites, just because of the coronavirus pandemic. “I don’t want to exploit my customers, I want to keep them,” he assured.
Featured in this publication in the past, Smith had opined: “Kids that make kites develop a higher intelligent quotient (IQ) for mathematics.”
“It’s a process that begins with four pieces of wood, and the more colorful the kite, the better it sells. Blending light and dark colors with a background that suits the star-point design is very important,” he. said.
There are other designs such as the box kite, the singing engine and the bird kite, but Smith specializes in the six-point flyer that is completed with two loops at the top to raise the kite and a tail to balance and keep it in the air.
“Kite making is a discipline where life is concerned,” said the artist, who began vending at the age of 16 and credits his father, a carpenter contractor for passing down the tradition.
To reserve a kite, call Trevor at + 592-664-1366.
