Bamboo Inspection

On the afternoon of Tuesday, March 2, Lynn and I headed out to the farm in Chisago County to inspect and measure the bamboo for the House to Touch the Wind. We arrived to find the bamboo buried under a mound of beautiful white snow.  After an hour-long recovery effort we decided to recruit more bodies and return over the weekend.

Unfortunately Lynn and I couldn't coordinate our schedules, so Lynn and Andy returned on Friday, March 5, to finish digging out the bamboo, and Scott and I returned on Saturday, March 6, to do the bamboo inventory and condition report.  After showing Peter our report, we're happy to say that we have more than enough bamboo!  Thanks to everyone that helped!

The House to Touch the Wind: The Next Generation

The bamboo design team met in the pavilion at Harriet Island on this snowy winter evening to discuss plans for this year's event. Claiming that the construction of the bamboo house we have used for the last three years has become "too easy" for us, Peter unveiled his radical new design ideas for the House to Touch the Wind. He proposed that this year we build a yurt-inspired structure. Wind chimes will still hang in the house, but the new house will also include fabric design by Angie and possibly a new, interactive component.

It's hard to believe that this sky will be full of kites in less than three months!

A model of Peter's new House to Touch the Wind design.

The structure will be built on the ground in a sunburst pattern, then folded up.

Here's what the House to Touch the Wind looked like in 2008.

We Need Your Help!

It's hard to believe, but the fourth annual Wishes for the Sky is just around the corner--just 3 and a half months away!  The ensemble is gearing up for another wonderful event, but we need your help. If you believe in this annual day of wishing, please consider a donation of any amount. 100% of your gift will support the event. You can give by following the "Give MN" link below or in the sidebar.-->

Thank you!

Wishes for the Sky 2010

Announcement:  The upcoming Wishes for the Sky is now scheduled for April 25, 2010.  Stay tuned for more updates!  Happy Holidays!

HFL Photography

Many thanks to the Human Form and Lighting Photography Group for volunteering to document this year's event! Below are some of their wonderful photos from Wishes for the Sky 2009:

Wishes Ensemble 5-27-09

Last night the Wishes for the Sky Ensemble met for the first time since Wishes for the Sky 2009. We reflected on the event and gave updates on what we have each been doing for the last month. We then spent some time examining the Ensemble and this year's Wishes by taking notes and sharing our thoughts on the following questions:

-What worked for Wishes '09?
-What didn't work so well?
-How did we support each other?

-What's needed now?

-What's needed for next year?

-What excited you about preparing for and participating in Wishes '09?

-What would you like to get out of our sessions in the coming months?

The Ensemble writes it's thoughts on the question: "What didn't work so well?"

Thank You from the Producing Ensemble

"Our 3rd annual Wishes for the Sky happened on April 19, 2009. We set out to help people make good wishes while honoring the earth and themselves. We created an enchanted experience by the Mississippi River and helped root this young tradition in our community. We reminded many public visitors how important wishing and hope are for our world. This is a work of art enacted and created by the people. Thank you for making Wishes for the Sky a success.

"The rain was wonderful. It gave us an opportunity to accept it. Of course, at first, we felt anxious and disappointed. But that feeling slowly washed away, and we were taken by how we looked at one another, reassuring each other that it was going to be ok. It didn’t matter that the numbers were modest. Everyone who was there sensed a great and different satisfaction. Each person who braved the weather became a blessing. Each visitor who came to the Mississippi on a drizzly day to make a wish was a friend, a fellow believer, a hearty Minnesotan.

"To see hope, dedication, and generosity against the backdrop of rain is very different from seeing it on a sunny day. The whole day we held the youngest and oldest wishes in our hearts, again perhaps more so than on a sunny day.

"The family of new baby Oliver wrote: 'We wish every child has a safe home and loving family.'

"Walter Breuning, 112 and the oldest man in the country, wrote: 'I just wish people would be kind to each other.'

"To enjoy our memories even more, please take a look at the list of selected wishes from the day. They are remarkable.

"The early numbers tell us that more than 600 came to our event on April 19, more than 350 kites carried wishes, and we created no more than 3 pounds of trash. Beyond the numbers, there is so much to celebrate about our day together. We accomplished something very unique, and the openheartedness at the event was magnified.

"Again, thank you."

The Wishes for the Sky Producing Ensemble 2009
-Marcus Young, Lead Artist
-Vonda Vaden, Co-Producer
-Ming-Jen Chen

-Lynn Hoffman
-Lori Janey
-Brad Klages
-Kathleen Maloney
-Aki Shibata
-Travis Spangler