Creating Origami in the U.S. National Arboretum’s National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

Origami instructor, Jeff Raab

A young participant holds her origami crane

As one of the programs and classes offered at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, origami professional Jeff Raab led the Museum’s first-ever origami class in January. People of all ages and folding skill levels attended to learn different bases and models.

Raab started small, with a few simple folds and models, eventually moving to the quintessential paper crane, in hopes that attendants would then use their crane-creation skills to contribute to the National Symphony Orchestra’s effort to bring 1,000 paper cranes to the Children’s Peace Monument in the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan as part of their Asia 2020 tour.

Kennedy Center leader Andrew Brown wrote a note of thanks for everyone who participated in the project:

I am proud to report that the National Symphony Orchestra received more than 3,000 paper cranes sent from around the country. It was a remarkable response to our project in preparation for our visit to Hiroshima, Japan.

As I am sure you may have realized, the NSO tour to Japan was canceled due to COVID-19. After 15 months of preparation, we were very disappointed, but our offices were full of the most beautiful and colorful origami cranes. We continued to organize and string the cranes together even after the cancellation of the tour.

On Friday, March 6th, NSO musicians performed a concert at the Japan Information and Culture Center in Washington, D.C. On that occasion, we were able to present 2,000 origami cranes to Minister Takehiro Shimada from the Embassy of Japan, along with a special poster made by members of the D.C. Youth Orchestra Program.

All of the origami cranes presented will be carefully packaged and mailed to the City of Hiroshima along with a record of everyone who participated and shared comments as part of this project.

Click here to see photos of the journey of the NSO Paper Crane Project. It has been a pleasure to work on this project with you, and we thank you for your contributions towards this project in recognition of the 75th Anniversary of the end of World War II.

Sincerely,

Andrew Brown

Participants learned how to fold different figures

While we are currently closed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we are looking forward to continue hosting our variety of workshops – from origami to forest bathing to tai chi – as soon as authorities permit reopening. We can’t wait to see you again!

Museum to Hold First Origami Class with Jeff Raab

“Origami is an incredibly natural fit alongside the bonsai work, because they both rely on the essence of nature to create a beautiful art form.”

— Jeff Raab, Origami Instructor

When thinking of ancient arts, where does your mind first wander? Perhaps you think of tai chi or even bonsai training – but what about origami? According to the Public Broadcasting Service, the folding art became popular in China around 105 A.D., but  soon made its way to Japan and eventually the rest of the globe.

We spoke with Jeff Raab, a professional origamist who will be leading the Museum’s first-ever origami class, Origami & Bonsai: Ancient Arts Collide, happening at the Museum Jan. 18. (You can sign up here). Raab told us about how a beginner’s origami book he was gifted as a child became a lifelong passion. 

“Every kid has their thing, trains or dinosaurs – my thing was animals,” Raab said.

Unlike some childhood hobbies that fade with time, Raab found solace in origami again as a young adult while pursuing an acting career in New York. For about five years now, he has worked with Taro’s Origami Studio, teaching folding workshops and delving deeper into the complex models.

“I’d only seen the tip of the iceberg in terms of what origami was, and there was so much more I wasn’t aware of,” he said. “Origami is this vast unending realm of possibility. If you can think of it, somebody’s probably come up with an origami version of it.”

Raab teaches folding to young origamists at Taro’s Origami Studio.

Raab said origami now provides him with a much needed break from a chaotic New York day, instead of just acting as a way to pass the time.   

“I love that it’s meditative,” he said. “You’re always engaged with it, but it’s not rushed. You’re patient with it.”

How the ancient arts collide

Both origami and bonsai have been practiced for hundreds of years, and the versatile art forms complement each other with their creativity and precision, Raab said.

“They’re both meditative and engaging,” he said. 

Raab said the atmosphere and organic beauty at The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum presents an amazing location for his upcoming origami class. 

“Origami is an incredibly natural fit alongside the bonsai work, because they both rely on the essence of nature to create a beautiful art form,” he said. 

Vulture and eagle origami

What to expect at Raab’s session

Raab wants to ensure that he introduces the art form in depth, rather than simply presenting a few entertaining models. 

“I want to offer some of the underlying concepts around origami so that the class is not just about how to fold three or four things but rather provides some ideas people can expand upon,” he said. 

Participants will learn different bases and models, and anyone from a novice origamist to a seasoned folder is welcome.

“I’m treating this as a total beginner, no experience needed, never done it before introduction to origami,” Raab said. “I’m anticipating starting from – no pun intended – square one.”

To get your start in the origami world, or to brush up on your folding techniques, sign up for Origami & Bonsai: Ancient Arts Collide held Saturday, Jan. 18!

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A few spots remain for Saturday’s children-family Origami & Bonsai workshop. Learn more and register here.

Learn more about our friends at National Symphony Orchestra and their origami crane project here.