About
UChicagOrigami holds weekly meetings during which members learn a model along with the techniques and/or history associated with it. Models are chosen to naturally progress in difficulty throughout the quarter while still being accessible to newcomers.
UChicagOrigami strives to help students work through the models so that they always leave the meeting with something they are proud of. This exhibit displays the models donated by members and teachers from meetings in Winter and Spring 2024.
Models
Winter Quarter
Week 1: Mount Fuji (1/9/24)
To start off the winter quarter, we welcomed both returning members and newcomers by learning how to fold Mount Fuji, designed by Yamanashi Akiko.
Week 2: Snowflakes (1/16/24)
Embracing the cold weather, we explored symmetry in origami by folding snowflakes. We were able to fold this single-sheet model with hexagons – a first of the year!
Week 3: Monkey Sitting Under a Palm Leaf (1/23/24)
Returning from our speaker event with Boice Wong, we decided to return to a model designed by our club’s founder – Andy Yang’s Monkey Sitting Under a Palm Leaf! This model allowed our members to heavily shape the model, allowing for individual artistic flair.
Week 4: Tesselations (1/30/24)
For this week’s meeting, Nikhil led us through folding tesselations, with members choosing to fold one of four. Two notable ones are the herringbone tesselation and the waterbomb tesselation. This was the first class in which all of our members folded from crease patterns!
Week 5: JSA x UChicagOrigami (2/6/24)
On week 5 we had our first club collaboration with the Japanese Student Association in which we folded origami hearts to help raise funds for Earthquake Relief. Following folding hearts, Ronik instructed the members on our yearly Valentine’s Day napkin roses.
Week 6: Modular Flowers (2/13/24)
For Valentine’s day, members could choose between three flower models – the classic Kawasaki Rose, and two modular flowers by Ekaterina Lukasheva.
Week 7: Paleo Club x UChicagOrigami (2/20/24)
We welcomed the UChicago Paleo Club for our second club collaboration of the Year. After a brief talk by Paleo on the Triceratops, we folded an origami Triceratops designed by Makoto Yamaguchi! This was one of our cutest models of the year and one of the most fun.
Week 8: Snails (2/27/24)
We slid slowly into Week 8 by folding Snails designed by Meng Weining. This model included a recursive shell and a color-change body.
Spring Quarter
Week 1: Butterflies (3/19/24)
To begin the Spring Quarter, Ronik gave a short intro to the various types of paper we fold within Origami, with the best being Origamido. We then folded the Origamido butterfly designed by Michael LaFosse – the maker of Origamido paper.
Week 2: Jumping Bunny (3/26/24)
We introduced our members to our upcoming Spring Quarter Speaker Jeremy Shafer by folding his Jumping Rabbit! This was a great introduction to more complex action models.
Week 3: Modular Octahedron/Modular Cube (4/2/24)
For week three, Nikhil helped guide us through two modular origami models. Members had to either cut their 6in squares into four or fold with the 3in sticky notes provided.
Week 4: Crescent Moon (4/9/24)
Inspired by both the Solar Eclipse and Eid al-Fitr, we folded crescent moons! This design is similar to the Origami Google-Doodle designed by Robert Lang. Furthermore, we introduced our Origami Library this meeting! Going forward from this week, UChicagOrigami members have access to a growing Origami Library.
Week 5: tiny origami (4/16/24)
this week began a series in which we experimented with different paper types and sizes. week 5 was tiny origami, and members folded one of 3 models – a crane, a waterbomb, and jo nakashimas dragon. members also learned about the importance of accurate creases, and difficulties when the model gets too thick.
Week 6: BIG ORIGAMI (4/23/24)
AFTER FOLDING TINY ORIGAMI, WE FELT IT FITTING TO EXPLORE THE OPPOSITE – BIG ORIGAMI. MEMBERS EITHER FOLDED SOMETHING OF THEIR OWN DESIRE, OR ONE OF OUR FOUR PROVIDED MODELS. EACH SQUARE OF PAPER WAS OVER TWO FEET IN LENGTH/WIDTH.
Week 7: Food Origami (4/30/24)
In week 7 we proposed a sticky situation to our members – what does an origamist do when he/she/they have no paper? Use the next best option – FOOD! Members folded one of three models – lucky stars, hearts, or cranes – out of the least forgiving flat food, Fruit Roll-Ups/ Froot by the Foot.
Week 8: Handmade Paper (5/7/24)
Special Lecture on Design by Ronik
For our final meeting of the quarter, we folded with paper we made during the papermaking event with the Phoenix Sustainability Initiative (PSI). To send off the year, our graduating President Ronik gave an amazing talk on the basics of design, displaying how much invention can come from a simple fish base and an understanding of flaps and rivers.