This exhibition, the first of its kind in an art museum in the United States of America, included 200 objects by 42 paper folders from Canada, England, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States of America.
Most of the objects in _*ORIGAMI MASTERWORKS*_ were created by folding single sheets of paper to make geometrical forms, flowers, trees, people, masks and a menagerie of real, fanciful and prehistoric animals. Among the artists with works in the exhibition were Paul Jackson - a master of abstract form, Robert Lang - master of realism, Eric Joisel - master of the human form and Florence Temko - master folder and author. Exquisite, polyhedral containers fashioned from Japanese handmade paper were by the innovative artist Tomoko Fusé of Japan, who also introduced her newest origami art form, Tessellations, in this exhibition. Akira Yoshizawa, a twentieth century pioneer, who produced many new origami models, was also represented. For his contribution to the culture of Japan, the Emperor decorated Mr. Yoshizawa in 1983 with the Order of the Rising Sun.
For almost 1900 years masters taught their students the techniques and designs of origami by demonstrating the same models they had been taught. Thus, at the beginning of the twentieth century, only about 150 origami models existed. Today, thanks to several inventive and generous artists, there are thousands of models being folded worldwide.
A Gwendolyn Peacher Exhibition Enhancement Event was presented on October 9 in the Museum by innovative paper folder Robert Lang demonstrating the art of origami by folding a large heron and an elephant. Several paper folders also demonstrated their art during the Members’ Exhibition Reception on October 10.
A number of OrigamiUSA’s Pacific Coast Conference programs were held in the Museum October 9-13, 2003.
A trunk show and demonstration by well-known San Francisco paper folders Linda Mihara and Vicky Mihara-Avery was presented on January 24, 2004 in The Collectors’ Gallery.
A Folding Festival featuring author and folder, Florence Temko, took place on January 25, 2004 in the Museum’s Warren Theater Gallery. Fifty-minute classes at three skill levels offered the opportunity to learn to fold a cup, star box, candy tray, gyroscope, camellia, lily, flower box, crane, dragon, monkey, horse, F-14 jet, boat and star.
A Mingei International exhibition documentary and videotape were made possible by an anonymous foundation. A 2004 Calendar also accompanied the exhibition.