Christina Steele

My name is Christina Steele, and I own and operate Kite Flyer Art, which I opened in 2008 after graduating
from college with my BFA. My work has recently transitioned from drawings and paintings into Pointe
shoes in the past year. I combine my love for Fiber arts with the design work and symbolism that is
foundational in my sketchbooks and paintings. Throughout the years, I have been deeply inspired by and
focused on the inner relationships of humanity, the world around us, and God. The heart
behind my work is to provoke inquiry into those relationships and display my personal experiences.

I was originally trained in 2-D (drawing and painting), but also took a few fiber courses in
college. This sparked a love for dyeing, batik, and fabric painting, and fueled my pre-existing love for the
designs and fiber arts of India. My professor introduced me to Dharma Trading. All of the products used
in the courses came from Dharma. After graduating, I pulled out the dyes. My initial project was fabric
painting using the Pebeo Setacolors to create design work on my wedding dress. In 2012, I re-engaged
in dyeing and picked up some retired Pointe shoes as new canvases. I begin the process by first dyeing the shoes with the Pebeo
Setacolors, and then followed up by applying the designs in the same way Mehndi artists apply henna, on the
shoes. The designs have been applied in acrylic paint, but I will soon be experimenting with thickening
the dyes and manipulating them more.

Kite Flyer Art was birthed out of an early childhood desire to fly. I was never more right with
the world than when I dreamt of flying or felt a strong gust of wind rip under the thin plastic wings of my
kite to send it soaring.

My final year of college was spent developing a cohesive body of work. I wanted more than
anything to share the greatest story I'd ever experienced -- the Gospel. In developing those pieces, the
symbol of a kite surfaced continually (with enough personal meaning that I had it tattooed behind my
ear). Once I graduated, I opened Kite Flyer Art, and my Etsy shop followed two years later.

I was driven to use art as a conduit to communicate a relationship that I have with the Lord, which has gone to the very depths of who I was and still am, and brought me life; brought me flight.