1000 Origami Cranes and Tikkun Olam

Art for Prayer and Peace: A Bridge to Oneness is a three room art exhibit that is meant to inspire compassion among a diverse audience.  I was continually inspired on a trip to Japan– and so the first room is dedicated to the ways that Judaism (with some Christianity) mesh with the spiritual teachings of Japan.  One day, I was talking with my former metal arts instructor and dear friend Dawn Nakanishi about the Jewish teaching of Tikkun Olam “Heal the World” and she remarked that it reminded her of the Japanese tradition of folding 1000 Origami Cranes.  So I decided to include the cranes in the exhbit.  Here’s a short video explaining:

After thinking about the cranes I realized that this art project would be a great way to involve members of the community who support my art to be a part of the exhbit.  So at my Open Studio events and other events, like the one at the Unity Spiritual Center we have set up the project.  Participants are asked:  “How do you bring healing to the World?”  

 

One interesting observation has been that many people really have to think twice about how they do bring healing to the world.  The question itself becomes a spiritual exercise.  Once they’ve settled on an answer, they write it on special origami paper that I provide, have their picture taken with their answer and then fold the crane.  (Sometimes we fold the crane for them.)  The end result will be 1000 origami cranes with writings about this and “Tikkun Olam” as well as a slide show featuring all of the people who participated and the ways that they bring healing to the world.

 

Here are a few pictures of some participants:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Would you like to be a participant in the Origami Crane exhibit?  Email me and I will add you to the invitation list for future 1000 origami crane/Tikun Olam events.  Click here to make a tax deductible donation to the project.

 

Thank you!

 

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