The “Go With The Flow” Kite Exhibit is in honor of the volunteer spirit of Yellowstone River Parks Association. That work has helped build up more than 2,000 acres of public natural parks, and miles of connecting trails, in Yellowstone County.
The Exhibit is organized and curated by Billings artist Terry Zee Lee, opens on September 27th and features twenty different kites displayed at a dozen locations throughout Billings. The award-winning creative artists behind these kites are from across the United States in Canada, including John Pollock, a Billings-based artist and five-time winner of America’s highest kite building award. Other artists include Scott Skinner from Colorado, Jose Saintz from California, Sharon Musto from Alberta, Canada.
The kites all made an appearance at the 45th annual American Kitefliers Association festival in Seaside, Oregon the second week of September, both as individual kites and as a group. They earned multiple awards, including the top festival award for a kite by John Burkhardt called “Big Sky, Big River.”
Since its founding in 1991 as an outgrowth of the Leadership Billings Alumni Association, YRPA volunteers have put in 8,000 hours annually to cut trails, remove weeds, politick city and county bureaucrats, build shelters and buildings, burn huge piles of invasive trees, acquire property, and partners with public agencies. They also convene almost every Wednesday to plan, strategize and organize weekend work parties.
In August of 2024, the organization hired Carolyn Sevier as Executive Director to help steward resources and build capacity to meet its growing needs.
The kite exhibit is generously supported by the Harry L Willett Foundation, with additional support from First Interstate Bank.
More information about Terry Zee Lee and her kite work, including education programs and internationally-recognized exhibits, can be found at https://www.zeeleekites.com/