The Art of The Fold

Curses to Creases

Atlanta Origami Club

Fall is here and what better way to ring in the harvest season than a scarecrow. Or in this case, a garden filled with scarecrows courtesy of the Atlanta Botanical Garden. This month, the Atlanta Origami Club took part in the ABG's annual "Scarecrows in the Garden" display. (Scarecrows in the Garden tickets are available through Sunday, October 29th).

Greeting visitors at the entrance to the Botanical Garden display is our Japanese scarecrow (aptly named) "Curses to Creases". Our inspiration pays homage to both the Japanese culture and the art of origami. The structure of "Curses" body was built on a base of PVC pipe with straw, pillows, and batting giving him form. He dons a bat-print traditional Yukata - a kimono for a man - with an Obi sash. His pumpkin head features a "happy" Kabuki face topped with the traditional Samurai top-knot.

Origami traces its origins to the Edo Period (circa 1603) of Japanese culture and translates as ori meaning "folding", and kami meaning "paper". Each of the origami pieces including: his pumpkin head, his pet crane, and a variety of spooky bugs and creatures (bats, lizards, scorpions, and spiders) were folded and dipped in wax to weather the outside elements. The art of origami is as much about the precision of each fold as the patience required to complete the piece. (Some of the advanced origami pieces took five hours to complete.) The various critters can be found scaling "Curses" arms and legs or hovering over head.

With "Curses", the Atlanta Origami Club hopes to increase awareness for the art, beauty, and origins of origami. Special thanks to Atlanta Origami Club members: Troy, Jason, Gigi, Lesley, Chris, Robin, Eduardo, Melanie, Vanessa, Henry, Sam, Lynette and Terry - for bringing "Curses to Creases" to life. If you're interested in learning more about the Atlanta Origami Club, follow this link.