Origami exhibit opens at Norman art studio

By Tami Althoff

Published: March 29, 2008

NORMAN — Sculptor Klint Schor has incorporated origami into many of his designs, mainly lamps and lighting fixtures. But when the emerging artist was asked to be part of an exhibit focusing on the nonwestern artistic tradition of paper folding, he decided not to use paper at all.

"It's the antithesis — or anti-matter — of origami,” Schor said of the sculpture hanging from the ceiling of Dreamer Concepts Studio and Foundation, 324 E Main St., in downtown Norman. "It's based off the folds you would use to create an origami bird.

"I thought it was unique, because you never see an origami skeleton,” he said. "By the virtue of origami, it requires paper.”

The sculpture, made of metal rods, in fact looks like the skeleton of an origami bird, if there were such a thing. Behind the sculpture, on a blue wall, Schor scribbled the folding patterns required to create the bird if using paper.

Schor's design is part of "Migrations ... the Origami Experience,” a new exhibit opening today at Dreamer Concepts Studio and Foundation. Also displaying works are painter and screen printer Mariah Johnson and painter and mold maker Jerrod Smith.

An opening reception will be from 7 to 10 p.m. today at the studio. Thomas Anderson will perform classical guitar pieces, and attendees will be able to buy $5 raffle tickets for a J. Reynolds electric guitar donated by McMichael Music Studios. Tickets for the guitar will remain on sale through May 3 when the winner will be selected.

Amber Clour, Dreamer Concepts executive director, said the exhibit examines how the artists use origami to communicate issues such as personal journeys, cultural division and environmental sustainability.

"The majority of the origami included in the show has been created from recycled materials in order to promote awareness for issues surrounding environmental sustainability,” Clour said.

Smith will be exhibiting a beeswax cast of a bodice with origami birds coming out of the head, among other works. He said creating the birds with his friend, who is Asian, gave him a new perspective on Eastern art form.

"I saw it as a process, something I had to get through to end up with this piece,” Smith said. "He saw it as a traditional thing — a time for us to spend time together and fellowship. For him, it's something he's always done during family gatherings, sort of like us opening presents at Christmas. It was interesting.”

In addition to works by the featured artists, Norman High School students contributed to the exhibit's theme. Kimberly Rice's visual art students and Joshua Flores' creative writing students made origami cranes and whales, Clour said.

"They contributed over 400 individual origami pieces, which incorporate original poetry and recycled materials,” she said. "It's really neat.”

The exhibit, which will remain on display through April 26, coincides with the Oklahoma Sustainability Network's annual conference held Friday and today in Norman. During the two-day period, the conference was to include workshops covering areas such as transportation, bio-fuels and alternative energy. Joel Salatin, a nationally known sustainable agriculture pioneer and author, is scheduled to speak today. He will sign copies of his books at 6 p.m. today at the Norman Depot, 200 S Jones Ave. Also signing books will be author Diane Leafe Christian. A session for children ages 3 to 12 focusing on protecting the environment is planned from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at Andrews Park. Activities will include stories, music and games.

Also coinciding with the exhibit is the city's hOUR Norman initiative aimed at promoting energy conservation in the community. Residents and businesses are asked to turn off all unnecessary lights and unplug unused appliances between 8 and 9 p.m. Sunday. They also are encouraged to trade out their incandescent lightbulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs.

In conjunction with hOUR Norman, Dreamer Concepts will be handing out energy-efficient bulbs at today's opening, Clour said.

For more information, call 701-0048 or go to www.

dreamerconcepts.org.

Comments