Kite Symphony

Kite Symphony is a multidisciplinary exhibition by Roberto Carlos Lange and Kristi Sword. The project features a series of drawings called Radio Telescope and two films: an experimental visual music piece called Star Scores, which will be scored live during the Big Ears festival, and a film documenting sculptural interventions from their time in Marfa, Texas. Sound is the throughline between these diverse elements of this long-term project. Lange is a musician (widely known as Helado Negro), Sword is a visual artist, and Kite Symphony is an extension of their collaborative practice where they create work at the intersection of music, performance, and visual art. Parts of the two films were originally commissioned by Ballroom Marfa, organized by Sarah Melendez, and the ICA Boston, organized by Shane Silverstein. 

Roberto Carlos Lange also known as Helado Negro is a South Florida native, born to Ecuadorian immigrants, and based in North Carolina. Through his music as Helado Negro he sings in English and Spanish creating compositions that straddle ambient bolero abstract lyrical songs to more body moving electro-acoustic rhythmic pieces. His art practice shares parts of his sonic qualities of Helado Negro but involves films, installations and collaboration. In 2019, he received a United States Artists Fellowship in Music and a Grants to Artists award in Music from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts. Helado Negro released his new album PHASOR in 2024 on 4AD.

Kristi Sword is a visual artist who works on small-scale sculpture and drawing. She frequently works with various material such as mylar, hand-drawn 16mm film, translucent adhesives, and brass to explore the textural and sculptural possibilities these materials offer. Her foundation in metals and jewelry has created a bedrock for methodical processes. Her exploration of different media has extended from large-scale black and white pen and ink drawings to 2D stop motion animation. Kristi has shown her artwork at Ballroom Marfa and at The ICA Boston.

UT Downtown Gallery

106 S. Gay Street

March 7th – April 5th, 2025

Festival Gallery Hours:

Thursday – Saturday 12p – 9p

Sunday 12p – 6p