The Owls are not What They Seem

February 2013

Created by Davo Vinko

Folded by Michael Sanders

Folded from Crease pattern

Video instructions by jonakashima

Montroll Elephant

4-27-2013

Created by John Montroll

Folded by Michael Sanders

20" x 20" banana paper bonded to American foil

Diagrams in Origami Sculptures

Updating...

Well,

I am finally getting around to updating this 8 yr old blog.  I'm still irked that my old template along with a vast collection of links got wiped.  I don't look forward to this, because unlike 8 years ago, there are so many more sites, videos, and blogs now than there ever were before.  This is going to take weeks (and will be ongoing) to catch up and add in.

Then there's also the matter of organizing the layout to something I actually like; and contemplating a new template and look.

I know some readers do not like it that I use colored fonts (especially white and yellow) that do not show well on mobile phones and other browsers.

Input and suggestions is welcomed and will be listened to.

Folding in anticipation of a certain movie!

4-25-2013 Armor Mask Created by Brian Chan Folded by Michael Sanders

Patriot Armor Mask (3-sided paper for 3rd color change?)

"We need back up!"

Okay, who are we kidding?!  Brian Chan might not be able to say it but I can:  Iron Man and War Machine!!

Folded from 4 1/2 inch squares of commercial double sided, foil-backed paper.  (With War Machine, I bonded gun-metal black tissue to the paper side).

Diagrams appear in Tanteidan Convention Book #15

Previously folded...previously viewed...one more week!

Don't be fooled by imitations!

Rest in Peace, Russell Sutherland

I just learned that Russell Sutherland passed away Wednesday night.  Rob Hudson wrote out the following:

Tonight I am mourning the death of Russell Sutherland, a good friend of
mine since 2003, who died at his computer last night. Russell had struggled
with many, many medical issues, and was in pain and bad shape, limiting the
time he could physically work with his hands to create his origami art.
Russell had a lot against him, from poverty to lost nerves (thoracic), but
always looked forward to a time where he could be an Artist-in-Residence,
doing his origami and sharing the art with others.
Russell was there for me in some very personal struggles, and I helped him
when I could. His conflicts and struggles with others dwarfed mine, but his
were much higher stakes, from fighting for basic finances and living
conditions to struggling to retain his identity as an artist as others
sometimes took credit for the work.
This made Russ exceedingly upset, and, I fear, his outbursts reflected
poorly on him to those who didn't understand the level of his pain and his
convictions and how much he was a part of the work and relationships that
he made.
Regardless, over the past few years, Russell never hesitated to contact me
to see how *I* was doing. In reviewing our conversations and logs, I see so
many times where he was enduring severe pain and life stress, and yet still
produced his art and listened. And despite my own complaining and middling
issues, Russ followed my tiny struggles and always, always opened and
closed our conversations with "remember that you can always call me to
talk."
I'll miss you, Russ - wish I'd picked up the phone more and pissed and
moaned less.

I feel some guilt at this unexpected news- like I didn't do more to reach out to him; or recognize that he might have been reaching out to me for help, some guidance, support, or just a friendly ear.

We hadn't communicated in some time; but on FB in September of 2011, he messaged me through FB chat, out of the blue.  In reflection of our conversation, I believe he was reaching out in need of someone to talk to- downplaying the rough times he was going through; yet needing to share for some moral support from someone who would listen.  I now feel guilt that I did not listen more carefully to all that was going on with him.  I could sense he was troubled even as he tried to "put on a good face" and stay positive in our chat.

I first met Russell at OUSA in NYC.  The following are from OUSA in 2005:

With Lar

Hyperbolic Paraba "Lloyd"
One-of-a-kind piece, Created and Folded by Russell Sutherland
March 2005

Exhibited at OUSA 2005 and given to me as a gift.

 More of his masks/busts from the 2005 OUSA Convention can be viewed here.

More of Russell's fantastic artwork can be found at his site.