It's rare to see the work of George Peters and Melanie Walker in an art gallery; it's usually in the sky. The two are known for creating colorful kites, mobiles and installations that fly all over the world. "The thing that we really like about making kites is that it challenges our aesthetic abilities -- and also, it's a way of getting our work out into the world without having to go through galleries and museums," Walker says. "You can do an exhibition whenever there's wind."

But tonight at the Museum of Outdoor Arts, kite-lovers will get a rare chance to examine the pair's work up close. Peters and Walker often use bright colors and bold patterns to create kites in the shapes of people and animals, which they've flown everywhere from Italy to Thailand. A series of those kites will be on display, along with a section dedicated to Japanese and miniature kites. Peters says one of his favorite things about working in "aerial sculpture" is what he refers to as the "kite smile." "You can't look up without smiling," says Peters. "It's a very positive form of expression; it makes everybody remember their childhood and brings out the best in people."

Get that kite smile at Sky on a String: The Kites of George Peters and Melanie Walker,through July 21 at the Museum of Outdoor Arts, on the second floor of the Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway. The exhibit is free; for more information, visit www.moaonline.org or call 303-806-0444.
Tuesdays-Saturdays. Starts: March 10. Continues through July 21, 2012