Killing time with Manpei Arai's spinning top

 

Leaping Ball Game

 

Robin Glynn's Infinite Motion

Origami Festival at Storrier-Stearns Japanese Gardens

This took place two Sundays ago:

Shafer Flying Carpet Boomerang (new version)

Moving Cubes

Designed by Jo Nakashima (16/06/2019) Based on the "Pandora's Box" by Yami Yamauchi

Shafer's Origami Jumping Spider

On the Web:

Shafer's Jumping Cricket

Just in time for Halloween 2019!

At the Aquarium of the Pacific 17th annual Autumn Festival

David Brill's i-Squash-ahedron

Cat in the Hat

Origami Inchworm Action Model

  Beauty is in the simplicity and coolness in the action:

So simple! It's perfect!

Description translated:

Blowing is a simple but important exercise for the development of speech. When we talk about it in the phase, if the child has any difficulty breathing or any situation that alters his breathing, he will present difficulties in his language. The blow exercises will not only help the child control his breathing but will also strengthen the muscles he uses when talking.Some benefits may be:* learn or improve breathing for speech.* learn how to drive and control the air when talking.* improves and controls his voice.* improves your pronunciation.This is a fun and motivational strategy or activity to exercise the blow.

Return of Leaping Willy

Cherry Blossom Festival last weekend in Monterey Park

Last Sunday in Monterey Park at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.....


This is one of the first things I do in my demo, asking who in the audience has folded paper before (most people have probably done a paper glider) and as a lead in to action models.



My indoor stage demo was scheduled at 3pm on Sunday but then changed last minute to 4pm to accommodate another performer.

I've been doing this festival since 2002 or 2004.  I think it may have been my very first one and "big break" in doing things like this.  The first year I was outdoors with a booth.  I think my second year I had been given the center of the indoor gymnasium with 4 tables boxing me in.  At some point, I was asked to start doing stage demos.  That's when I had Yami and Joe with me, too.

I talk a bit about the evolution from traditional models into modern origami; including practical application nowadays into physics, sciences, and technology.  Then show off modern works of art.

My material has become such that it's growing a bit stale; but I follow a formula that I don't even need to rehearse, because I've done it so many times now.  Once I start talking about different moneyfolds, it segues into the realm of origami magic.

Us paperfolders love magic:




I'm a fungi:



After teaching Yami's banger to the group (really small crowd I thought, this year), I engage them in a "quick fold" contest for prizes:  Who can fold a banger (doesn't have to be the one I just taught) and make it pop first?





The big finish:

Dancing with Origami

4-bladed dragon-winged propeller

Collapsible Cubes

I first learned a Kasahara version of this model (I believe it's in Origami Omnibus) from a Japanese lady at OUSA back in 2001 or 2002.  That version required glue.  This one doesn't:




Doris Asano described it to me.  Not sure I did it it "correctly", in that I think Doris said the pieces are in 3rds and you use 4 pieces for the walls (I used 2 1 x 4 unites).

I'll have to ask around for the author of this version.

This is more the Kasahara version, here:

Quick Fold Contest

I have an on-stage demo every year at the Monterey Park Cherry Blossom Festival. 

A main-stay is doing a paper banger contest, after teaching it.  I use spaghetti western music, usually with origami cowboy hats; and samurai music (in this case, Hissatsu Shigotonin) with contestants wearing kabuto.