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Aaron, David and Byriah fold an oversized modular
during the Origami USA convention
Photo credit Debi Pfitzenmaier |
Started in the 17th
century, origami continues to evolve through the study of the mathematical
properties of the craft. And this is where origami is finding its resurgence
among youth.
Every June, a
group of nearly 400 adults, teens and kids gather together at the Fashion
Institute of Technology in Manhattan and spend hours folding paper at the
Origami USA Conference. For four days from morning to midnight, they fold their
way through modulars, tessellations, wire frames, flowers, birds, mythical
figures, mobiles and puzzles.
After classes all
day, everyone gathers in the Great Room. Some fold, others visit, many teach.
The origami moms sit and share tales of the stacks of origami units and
explosion of colorful papers piled high on bookshelves, on floors, in boxes and
in every nook and cranny of our homes. Everyone shares tips, tricks and tactics
until they are kicked out at midnight. The conversations continue in coffee shops
and hotel lobbies until eyelids, heavy with exhaustion, finally fall shut into
dreams of units, paper and fold patterns.
But there’s more
to this story. Origami is not just a hobby. It can be a stepping-stone to a future
career. Just look at the work of Erik Demaine
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in DNA folding, Robert
Lang's work on space telescopes. Origami can help children understand the
concepts of geometry and, as they advance, push the limits of their
calculations.
Happily, it’s not
a solitary art. There’s a vibrant and respectful Flickr community where
origamists share their folds, comment on each other’s designs and collaborate
on new units.
Have I caught
your attention now? Here’s where you can explore deeper:
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr
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Wow--this sounds like an awesome conference. My kids would love it!
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