When Origami Meets Karate Kid and Other Cliches

Are there no more Origami TV Champion challenges?

Josh Bertholet:

We would like to acknowledge all of the Origami Creators whose models we used in our film: Akira Yoshizawa Eric Joisel Michael LaFosse Jeremy Shafer Kunihiko Kasahara Francis Ow Robert Neale Paul Jackson Shephen Weiss John Montroll Joseph Wu Julia Niemeyer Traditional Toshikazu Kawasaki Robert J. Lang Mokoto Yamaguchi Tomoko Fuse David Brill

Happy Chinese New Year of the Horse, of Course!

2003?
Creator:  John Montroll
Folder:  Michael Sanders

 The mane thing is, to tell my tail and not horse around this year....

From elephant hide (Wyndstone paper) My all-time favorite daily fold...the Montroll horse is what first inspired me into going more complex. My very first WCOG meeting, Terry Hall (group leader, who has only since been to about 3 meetings in the last 12 years) had folded a beautiful 3-dimensional, elegant Montroll horse for a young girl. I went to Borders and immediately picked up Montroll's Origami Sculptures and a few others. Although the models are intermediate to low-intermediate level models today, I had never realized origami had continued to evolve to this level of folding. It was turning point in my own life, and hooked me onto origami as something a lot more than just a passing fancy and childhood past-time.

Origami Short Story

Details:

A story by Dhita Puspa Astrini
Directed by Ryan Rizki Rasepta
Produced by Vina Mahdalena

CAST
Awisti Dewi Jayanti as blind girl
Yudiansyah Amsri as boy

CREW
Cameraman Siswoko Nugrahadhi
Scenario by Esti Kurniasih
Properties by Astri Primelia Saputri
Documentation by Anugrah Saef Hidayatulloh
Transportation by Indra Maulana
Make up and costume by Nawang Wulan

SPECIAL THANKS TO
Allah SWT
Drs. Suwadi, S.PT
DECO DESIGN and ARTWORKS

music by Sugar Plant - Meadow

Doritos Crash the Superbowl Origami Commercial

A famous scene from Twin Peaks.

Well, this guy one ups that:


Doritos Contest:

This year, Crash the Super Bowl is open to fans around the world where Doritos chips are sold! Two finalists will see their ad air for an audience of millions and receive the opportunity to team up with Marvel on the set of “Marvel’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron.” The finalist with the highest total number of votes will win its creator a $1 million grand prize.

Are you bold enough to enter? Complete details at Doritos.com.

I don't think this one came close to making it to even the semifinals (the YouTube upload itself from last September only has 55 views listed).  He should have promoted it on origami blogs and forums.  I would have voted for it and helped generate  some more exposure.

So who's ready for Super Bowl Sunday?

Remember doing this in school:

Here are a few super origami bowls to hold your Doritos/chips and salsa/cheese dip/sour cream in (okay, maybe not the latter):

When Origami Meets an Untimely Death

Ever seen a 2D Divine Dragon, before?

This is what a Bahamut from a 10" square looks like after it falls to the floor and you step on it:

I actually think this is salvageable.  I just have to take the time to reshape.


I remember once when I worked at a retail store, I was delighted to see someone walk in who I hadn't seen in years.  She had since become a mother, cradling her baby in one arm.   I was a lead cashier at the time and sometimes kept origami at my register.  I went and grabbed for her a John Montroll Pegasus I had folded.

Next thing I know, she comes up to me and her baby is sucking on the Pegasus like an origami pacifier.

*Facepalm*



Anyone else ever have one of these experiences?

The Real Secret History of Origami....

Jay Ansill:  Fold like a butterfly....

Dave Mitchell:  Crease like a bee!

Check out more Great Moments in Origami History.

Whale Fiesta at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro, CA

Ginger invited me to take her place and do this event.  I was reluctant to accept, due to the perception of living a hectic schedule.  However, I couldn't pass up the opportunity of good company- Marti Reis, Jim Cowling, John Andrisan, Carol Stevens, Bernie Slotnick, and someone I hadn't met before, Lois.

I was asked by a 30 year vet of the Aquarium whatever happened to the "two Japanese guys".  I had no clue who he meant at first, but he was referencing Yami and Joe, who hadn't made an appearance in recent years.

Rare Bernie Slotnick sighting.  He sees Yami and Joe, regularly, though.

I mostly did my paper glider and the polypopagon:

Not many pix this time around.

Sunday Funnies

Hat tip:  Peter Mielke

Origami and the Military

 Who hasn't played with toy soldiers, cops & robbers, cowboys and injuns, elves vs. orcs, etc.?  Anyway, it's just a peace of paper:

Joseph Wu Origami Inc.

Hat tip Chila Caldera and Robert Lang:

Florida International University (FIU) researchers are using technology and principles derived from the traditional Japanese art of origami to create remarkably compact and incredibly efficient antennas and electronics. 

"By using origami geometries we can reconfigure antennas to whatever shape fits our purpose," said Stavros Georgakopoulos, assistant professor in FIU's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. "These geometries offer unique advantages of collapsibility. That's important for a number of applications, such as technology that needs to be launched in space or used on the battlefield."

Georgakopoulos is working with colleagues at Georgia Tech with the support of a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The team will work on the development of unique shapes that can allow the antennas to be only a couple of centimeters when folded flat and expand into much larger spaces with powerful, ultra-broadband capabilities.

"A soldier will be able to carry a powerful antenna into combat folded in his back pocket," said Georgakopoulos.

Possible applications for the antennas include a range of military and commercial uses, including communications equipment, wireless sensors, health monitoring sensors, portable medical equipment, and many other applications.

A traditional paper-folding art, origami includes both modular and moving types of structures. Mathematicians recently have focused on theoretical and practical questions raised by origami, resulting in technical advances in many areas.

 Chris Palmer, Eric Gjerde, and Ray Schamp are involved with this program.

Pop Up Models

Not pure origami- if even that- by any stretch of the imagination.  But still, great paper fun:






Haruki Nakamura is the designer of that.  These are also based upon his work:

Origami out of Czech Koruna

Goldfish folded by Tung Nguyen and designed by Vu Dung

So I was visiting the Facebook fan page of Won Park (which has misled many there into believing it is Won Park's own page), and I saw this beautiful moneyfold posted and shared by Tung Nguyen.


These are about the best Park koi I've seen done outside of the original artist himself.



I can see Thor wearing this one:

Winged helmet by Tung Nguyen

 Some other models designed by him and others, folded by him; like Herman Lau's flower-in-a-pot adapted to the proportions of a Czech banknote:

What is it about Vietnamese folders that make them so damn good?!

Don't squeeze the charming roll of toilet paper- fold it!

 A toilet paper commercial:




Can you believe this item was discontinued:

Fun.  I hope the quality of paper is maintained for wiping over folding and holding creaselines.

A folded cloth napkin at the dinner table is one thing; but If I were a guest in a house that decorated its roll like this for guests, I don't know if I'd feel comfortable tearing that off and using it; well...at least not without leaving behind something folded of my own before exiting. 

Look...weird people are even posting up YouTube tutorials on this stuff.



Really?!? 



This must be how Kamiya spends his time in the bathroom:

Mystery Model

Source

Anyone care to identify this model and its creator?  I've seen a lot of complex human-figure models out there; but haven't seen this one before.

I remember a time when Eric Joisel and Takashi HOJYO human forms were about as good as they get.

*UPDATE* 20:36

The model is GuanYU 1.5 by Leo Lai.  7 sheets.  Amazing!  Check out his other majestic origami art!

Thank you, Origami University!

Sunday Funnies

Just replace "cartooning" with "paperfolding"....

 

 

Lang Mantis

November 18, 2003

A Lang praying mantis- I believe from Origami Insects II.  (Folded over 10 yrs ago, and just dug up the photo). 


Of course, Lang has had several mantis designs over the years, including "Snack Time", which I'd like to call, "Origami in Sex, Too":

Folded from CP by Matthew LaBoone

AIn't Lion: I take Pride in this one

Created by David Brill
Folded by Michael Sanders circa 2003-5
from equilateral triangle of elephant hide (wyndstone paper).

Photographed by John Andrisan

When I started getting into modern origami designs over a decade ago, one of the first books that captivated me back then was David Brill's Brilliant Origami.  The Brill horse, the elephant....the lion.  What great works of sculptural folding!  

This was my first attempt; and thought it came out really well.  The  paws could be shaped and positioned better; but I really like the way the face and mane came out.  Still one of my favorites; although nowadays, there are other lion designs that probably does more to capture the essence of the mane.

Ryujin 2.1 in Time Lapse

I love his cat Dr. Wily vs. Chocobo:



Daniel Brown:

Published on Feb 20, 2013

The process of folding Satoshi Kamiya's Ryujin 2.1. Before this video began, I had to crease an 80x80 grid onto the 55" / 140cm sheet, then add crease lines to use during the collapsing process. This video shows the 8 hours from the end of precreasing to the final shaping, done between 4 sessions which were originally aired live. The music is "Mad Rush" by Philip Glass, performed by myself.

For anyone that wishes to try their hands at being tutored through Ryujin 3.5, this was offered 2 months ago...

Heart Box

In an earlier post, I made mention of a model similar to the pull-out shadow box, but with the top handles heart-shaped (traditional version).  I folded a bunch of them one year.

After viewing Jeremy Shafer's new one-piece magic rose cube, I saw a Leyla Torres video tutorial in the sidebar that is of the model I was referring to.  Just in time for another Valentine's Day just around the bend:



Looks like there are tons of video tutorials out there on this model (with Leyla probably the only one who sought permission from Mr. Ow).  Sadly, none seem to be giving credit where credit is due.

Riddle of the Sphinx Fold

"A thing there is whose voice is one;
Whose feet are four and two and three.
So mutable a thing is none
That moves in earth or sky or sea.
When on most feet this thing doth go,
Its strength is weakest and its pace most slow."

Created by Annibal Voyer
Folded by Michael Sanders
from one 10" square of tissue foil in 2005

Photographed by John Andrisan

I think I only folded this model once; and was pleased with how well the face turned out; and getting details out of the paws.

Smilodon

October 2005

Created by Satoshi Kamiya. Folded by Michael Sanders.
Photo taken and edited by John Andrisan.

 

From a 20 x 20 inch square of Thai banana paper bonded to American foil. Or was that pineapple paper?

Bulldog by Po San Wong

Bulldog

Created by Po San Wong

Folded by Michael Sanders

September 2005

I don't think this model has gotten the attention and exposure that it deserves.

 I find the feet difficult to shape; and the hind legs are a bit thin.  Aside from that, it has a great look.

Diagrams were published in the 300th anniversary issue of NOA.  I also vaguely remember seeing them somewhere online.

Since I don't seem to have enough motivation to sit down for a few hours and fold anything new (especially super complex models that take hours or even days), I thought I'd start publishing photos of stuff I've done in the past, directly here to the blog.  Especially since I allowed my Flickr Pro account to expire several years ago (meaning most of the links to the older photos I uploaded there are hard to find).

Polypopagon at BunKaDo

I delivered some of Joe's gifts to Rafu Bussan in Little Tokyo and picked up paper for him yesterday.  I entertained them with polypopagons and left some for their customers.  I did the same at Bun Ka Do:

Magic Wallet Card

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

-Marcel Proust

I've been looking at a bunch of arts & crafts card-making videos as of late (somehow I ended up here, when my trail began with pop-up polyhedra; which led me to flexagons; which led me back to pop-up and creative business cards; which led me to pop-up cards; and then on to cascading waterfall cards, sliding cards, flip cards, etc., etc.) I feel like such a girl and a geek right now.

Anyway, this cool card reminds me a lot of Yami's magic wallet:


Not the first time I've seen stuff like this; but I'm looking at all this through new eyes!  How far I've come from the days when I was drawn to only wanting to do single-sheet, supercomplex origami.

I suddenly have the urge to celebrate birthdays and occasions with fancy, creative, personalized cards!  (Decorated of course, with 2D origami).

Heart-shaped Pull Out Shadow Box Card?

Stumbling across this video, she referenced a more origami version of this.  Thankfully, she linked the video to her blogpost, which linked to the mentioned origami-version video & blog.








Valentine's Day is around the bend and I remember a couple of years ago doing a version of this where the two panel/handles were actually heart-shaped.  It was an easy model and I might be able to figure it out; or I probably have some buried somewhere.  But if anyone knows to what I am referring to, please provide me a model name and creator, so that I can track it down. 

I can't even remember how I had learned to make it; but remember making lots of them one year to give out at work, to the kids.

Pop-Up Geometry & More

In wake of polypopagon fun, Shafer's new pop-up book, and my continued search for a business card idea, it's led me to taking a bit of interest in stuff peripheral to origami:

January WCOG meeting

Jim Cowling

Light turnout at yesterday's WCOG.  We took down the Christmas tree decorations from the library tree.  Did a simple tetraflexagon.  Jim wanted to go over the Montroll horse; and I had him and Helen film my method of shaping the head and hooves (if John gives me permission to share, I will post the video up).

I also brought up Jesse Barr's golf bag with clubs out of a dollar, and Jim whipped one up in about two minutes, how he perceives the model to be engineered.

Mike Jittlov dropped in.  He showed off his version of a $cottie and a unicorn. 

Photos of Sunday's meeting here.






A short history...

Sunday Funnies

Max Hulme's Jack-in-the-Box

1-7-2014 5" x 10" kami folded "on the fly"

 This Jack-in-the-B box is one of my favorite regular folds.  A modern classic.  I learned it maybe 10-12 years ago from Joel Bauer, who was taught by Tom Stamm.  I don't remember if Joel ever sat down and taught it to me directly; but I do know he filmed a personal tutorial for me and gave me a VHS tape to learn from.  His sequence of folding in the crease pattern made it so much easier than following the diagrams in the Kenneway book, that I remember.

This is one of those models that always gets a positive wow factor from non-origamists, and the common question:  "Is that one sheet of paper?!".

The hinge on the lid isn't really designed to close; but it can.  And with gift-wrapping paper, you can sometimes make it spring up pretty well, too. 

Won Park used the extra left over paper of Hulme's 2:1 Jack to make a Jester's cap.  Ronald Fujioka out here in the LA area loved folding Won's version.  I think Andrew Hans taught it at one of the OUSA or PCOC Conventions.

Folded Oct 2005 out of a very large sheet of elephant hide backed with tissue paper

The Hassle of Handmaking Tassels with Joe Hamamoto

It takes me about 45 minutes on the 405, in comfortable traffic, to get to Marti's or Carol's; and also about that long to get to WCOG, for that matter (long, busy side streets after getting off the 10 freeway). 

Often when I go to the origami gatherings using the 405, I will swing by Marukai in Garden Grove for some tasty fried rice I like there.  Only a couple of blocks away is where Joe Hamamoto lives.

Many years ago, Joe and Gay Merrill Gross struck up a correspondence through email.  She is the one who put Joe and Yami Yamauchi in touch with one another (Yami also lives in Gardena).  And thus was born the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Joe loaded me up with a lot of origami modular giveaways when I went to PCOC back in October.  One of the persons he wanted me to give something to was Gay.  She did not attend; but I had Tricia Tait mule one of Joe's pieces to her.

A month ago, Gay emailed me to let me know she received the gift and to thank Joe.  One thing that caught her attention that had escaped mine was the quality of the tassel attached to her origami gift.  She asked if Joe makes his own tassels.  I said he probably gets them in Little Tokyo (even though he seldom travels much, due to his age).  It turns out I was wrong.

Joe does indeed make his own tassels, employing what he calls a "fisherman's knot", which he learned from his father.  I'm not an expert or connoisseur in tassel-making; but told Gay I would film Joe's method for her.  So Sunday, after the meeting at Marti's, I swung by to pick up my spam fried rice dinner, and gave Joe a visit:

Folding a Thousand Butteflies for Good Health?

I also folded and handed out so many origami butterflies that they soon came to symbolise my desire to be free from the restrictive effects of the stroke. 

-Ron Koh

I was in the Changi General Hospital high-dependency ward. It was to be my home for the next 40 days. The left half of my body, which was my dominant side, had been paralysed by an acute stroke.

For the better part of the second day, I stared at the packets of origami paper presented to me by some friends and family members. I was bored, but not in any mood or shape for folding. I was tormented by negative thoughts as I tried coming to terms with the loss of the use of my dominant limbs. I was looking at the loss of my independence and not being able to continue with most of the activities in life that matter to me, including origami, which had been a passion and part of me for the better part of 45 years.

Read the rest.  Very inspiring and moving.

At Marti's on Sunday, people asked around about Yami and Joe.  They are seen less frequently these days.

Yami is 77.  Joe is well into his 80s.  I worry about their health.

Joe can't speak for long without coughing; and yesterday he says Yami is beginning to develop some of the same cough as he has.

One thing I do know:  Origami has been a blessing in their lives and continues to keep their minds sharp.

Anyone notice the elephant in the room?

Marti's 1st Sunday of the year received a surprise appearance (sort of) by Boaz Shuval, Facetiming from Israel:

I made sure to give Boaz a tour of the food, holding his face up to it (or my phone, rather...):

More on the Polypopagon

Have polypopagon, will travel and entertain everywhere I go:






I often stop at this eatery in Marukai, which is along my route between home and my trip to Marti's or Carol's house; and also very close to Joe Hamamoto's (where I swung by to visit after Marti's 1st Sunday gathering today).
 
Boaz Shuval sent me a link to directions for the polypopagon (pop-up polyhedron on pg 36).

Related links of interest:

Pop-up Polyhedra
Polyhedra Pastimes

I have something like this Pop-up calendar that I bought from Bed, Bath, & Beyond years ago.  Here's a picture of it.  (And it does use rubberbands).

Sunday Funnies

Hat tip and source:  CHRUMIGAMI

4 New Year's Babies Folded

Last week I gave the Hot Shots class modulars folded by Joe Hamamoto; the previous two weeks Santas and Louise Cooper angels.  Today, I gave them Dr. Lang's New Year's babies:

Adding a pinch to love notes

ysFebruary 24, 2008 by Isabel Bleimeister

The above masu box contained these Hershey Kisses and notes, made by a student of mine when my old gym closed down.  The notes were filled with memories and sentiments of our time at the gym.

An ex-girlfriend of mine also once filled a box with love notes at a time when she was sick in the hospital.

So I'm reminded of these things when I read Leyla Torres' recent blogpost on 10 second love notes:

These origami paper sticks can be made in about 10 seconds. They are fun, festive, and as carriers of love notes or fortune messages, they are tamper proof. Once opened they cannot be re-rolled into their original shape.

A super simple idea for many occasions, including New Year’s celebrations!

I once wrote one hundred and fifty-two love notes, rolled them up into sticks just like these, and presented them to my husband in a glass jar as a birthday gift. He called them “love candies” and opened one a week because he didn’t want to run out of them too fast.

A nice idea, with beauty in the simplicity.

How to make your own Polypopagon

(New Year) Baby
Created by Robert Lang
Folded by Michael Sanders

Carol was out of town, so the 5th Sunday December meeting was hosted at Marti's.


Photos here (not many).


And to pop in the New Year...

NOA Monthly Origami Magazine, issue 461

Happypuppytruffles reviews the issue for January: