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Origami in the Garden – by Kevin Box

Location: The Morton Arboretum.

May 19, 2017 – October 22, 2017

There are 25 displays featuring 40 origami-inspired sculptures.

About Origami:  Origami is the art of paper folding. The word is a combination of two Japanese words ori [folding] and kami [paper]. In modern usage, the word origami is used as an inclusive term for all folding practices, regardless of their culture of origin. The goal is to transform a flat sheet square of paper into a finished sculpture – without making any cuts, glue, or marks on the paper – through folding and sculpting techniques. There are specific techniques used as pleats, crimps, twists and tessellations.

About Artist:   Kevin Box is Santa Fe based artist. He learned metal casting and developed a unique method  of using paper in the age-old tradition of bronze casting. He worked directly with paper and wax, using lost-wax method to develop origami sculptures. It took him several years to develop the process. He partnered with his wife Jennifer in producing a few of the sculptures. “Origami in the Garden” debued at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden in 2014. The exhibition comes to the Morton Arboretum after a successful run at the Naples [Florida] Botanical Garden.

About Origami Art connection to Nature:  Trees are transformed into paper. The paper is folded into intricate designs to make the Origami Art. From paper the artworks are recast into metal. Now they are at display among the celebrated collection of trees from around the world.

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“Seed Sower,” is a new piece made specifically for this exhibition. It is inspired by the Arboretum featuring an intricately designed squirrel, designed by origami artist Michael G. LaFosse, and an acorn, designed by origami artist Beth Johnson.

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One of the highlights of the exhibition is “Master Peace.” It features 500 stainless steel origami cranes soaring 24 feet above a reflective granite base. The piece’s reflection creates the appearance of an additional 500 cranes, evoking the Japanese tradition of folding a thousand cranes as a meditation and prayer for peace

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RELATED LINKS
2017: Sumi-E painting by Patricia Larkin Green / Morton Arboretum.. click here..
2017: Origami in the Garden / Morton Arboretum.. click here..
Parks, Boulevards, Gardens.. click here..
Home: Public Art in Chicago.. click here..

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