Significant Contributions: An Origami Project Unfolding

A selection of my origami magazine papers...

For years, I’ve longed to make origami but haven’t been successful. You see, It’s embarrassing to say, but I’ve never been able to follow the written or diagram instructions on how to make it. I remember once trying to fold a simple boat, and no matter many times I tried, I couldn’t get it right. Frustrated, I figured origami and I weren’t kindred spirits. So, you can imagine my apprehension when friend artist Cristiane Doherty invited me to participate in an Ottawa-based community origami/art installation project: Significant Contributions! Envisioning it probably consisted of folding hundreds of paper cranes (a veritable origami nightmare for me!), I told her that I couldn’t make origami for beans! She gently urged me to check out two flower designs posted on her organization’s website (AOE – which is hosting the project). If I couldn’t make one, she said I could donate an ATC (Artist Trading Card) which reflected what art meant to me; the project’s overall theme is: community, communication and contribution. I decided to at least give the simplest design, a lotus flower, a try. And guess what? I succeeded in creating my first official piece of origami! I was amazed – the stars must’ve surely been aligned that day! I had so much fun, I made 40 more! Believe me this project, in which artist Karen Goetzinger will be transforming these paper flowers into a quilt-like structure, needs thousands – five thousand to be exact! The piece will occupy a large space inside the Shenkman Arts Centre in celebration of its fifth anniversary.

Each folded lotus flower reveals a surprising result... I found this one stunning!

Each piece revealed its own design of chance…

While folding lotus flowers, I found origami to be such a calming, meditative activity; it’s infectious, too! Why else would I have produced 40 pieces without so much as glancing at my watch! Do you know what compelled me to keep folding flowers? Their beauty and my curiosity! Since one can use any type of paper to make a flower; I chose magazine pages because I have plenty of them to recycle. In my element, I selected pages filled with luscious colours, textures and designs: skin, silk, flowers, diamonds, tattoos, graffiti, natural elements and even smoke! My colour palette reflected many spectrums: bright and bold; glittering, black and white, neon, soft subtle pastel and earthy tones. And although I wasn’t using traditional origami paper, the pieces still turned out as cool as ever! The great thing about making these with magazine paper is that you never know what the end result will look like. If you try one, you’ll know what I mean. I worked with anticipation as each piece was folded into its own unique design of chance! Being a curious soul, I also asked, “what if?” What if I make a 7, 6, 3 or 2 inch square lotus flower? Could I handle it?! Yes, I could! What other kinds of paper might be neat to use – I pulled pages from a Japanese manga novel as well! I wondered too if I could create a kind of origami/collage fusion. I noted when I showed Kevin (my hubby) finished pieces he continually unfolded them at the centre to see what imagery was inside. I realized here, in this tiny square area, I could make a miniature collage! Because he’s my muse, I tested my idea out on an exquisite ATC Valentine card for him! Accepting this origami challenge has taken me in many exciting directions. I’m even considering collaging a series of lotus flowers for my studio or office wall!

A grouping of lotus flowers so cool. This month I donated 40 to AOE!

Be part of the project!

As I continue to make origami, I invite you to participate as well… even if you only submit one small piece! You are, after all, part of my virtual Ottawa community. I extend a call out to you ATCers too if you’d rather make a card based on what art means to you. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have something made by your own hands to incorporate into a public art piece? Wouldn’t you love to say: “I’m part of an art exhibition in Ottawa, Canada or North America?!” The Shenkman Arts Centre’s a beautiful contemporary space with high dramatic windows and ceilings – it’s where I participated in the 2012 Gharana Festival. Professional award-winning artist Karen Goetzinger, known for her work constructing mixed media textiles, is leading the project; her piece “State of Transparency” was an award finalist in ArtPrize’s 2011 international competition. Karen’s background in fine arts and fashion design, along with her knowledge of couture construction and quilt making, make her an excellent candidate for the task of overseeing the integration of everyone’s work into a final stunning piece! As one who values the contributions of every day folk into public art projects, I believe there’s no better way to celebrate community than being part of a collaborative project of this kind. Kudos to Cristiane Doherty and Karen Goetzinger for dreaming up this wondrous idea as well as everyone involved in bringing this marvellous vision to life!

How YOU can contribute:

1) Make origami*; there are two flower forms to choose from: Camellia & Lotus;
2) Donate paper for folding (any kind);
3) Make an ATC that reflects what art means to you OR
4) Send in a reflection about how art has affected your life.

(* A suggested size for flowers is a six inch square; they’re also accepting a variety of sizes – the more the merrier!)

All these will be incorporated into the quilt. To learn more about the Significant Connections Project as well as Karen’s visual conception of the piece, be sure to visit AOE on-line where you’ll find a more detailed project description; Liana Voia’s video featuring Cristiane and Karen as well as origami instructions. If you decide to contribute in any form, I’d love to know. I’ll also be happy to send you a photo of the finished installation! The project unveiling will be held in June 2014.

Note: The deadline to submit each month as well as participate in origami-making sessions at the AOE Gallery is ongoing until June 2014 – see AOE for more information on this.

Other Related Links:
Artist Trading Cards: Bits & Bytes (featuring an ATC by Cristiane Doherty)
The Birth of Collage Your World