"Fiddler Crab" Kite by Michael Thompson

Chicago-based artist Michael Thompson creates unique kites crafted from split bamboo frames covered with stretched muslin and a collage of vintage Asian ephemera - including fragments of fabric, scrolls, drawings, and books collected during his travels.

Entitled "Fiddler Crab," this work reveals the split bamboo structure supporting his kite paintings. Hued by pastel pinks and blues, a layer of sheer gauze drapes over the rigid grid, adding an ethereal veil of color. Playing off this juxtaposition is a gestural splash of grey, finishing the kite with a graphic focus and a subtle sense of motion.