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Unless somebody's dad has to clean up after everyone tomorrow morning, then "The Art of Play" is going to be smiles all around. What are we talking about here? Toys!

"The Art of Play," appearing at Mingei International Museum in Escondido, is an exhibit built around centuries worth of toys from delicately constructed mechanical doo-dads to sky-soaring, cloud-hugging, kites. We've got fish-on-wheels, bears doing jumping jacks, pecking chickens, trains, planes and wee automobiles.

This particular exhibition will be much more high-brow than the one which appeared under the same name at Chicago's Garfield Park Conservatory. In that one, a red sequin bedecked Lord Licorice led youngsters and the not-so-young through a life-size Candyland.

The center-piece of this particular exhibit, however, will be the Mingei Museum's extensive Kite collection. Kites, ancient and modern, stately and sleek, in all shapes, sizes and themes will be on display. Kites from India, Japan, Thailand, Korea, China, France and Taiwan are represented, and not just in suspended animation. Flocks of kites are set to frolic in the air above the Main Gallery. With all of that fun, don't let your feet leave the ground!

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