Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Between the Folds

Between the Folds was a wonderful film about the beauty of origami that involved math and geometry. Before watching this I thought great works of art like those shown used more then one piece of paper but in reality it is just one. This video opened my eyes to the world around me- everything is folded/folding. One line that stuck with me was something the Artisian said was "One of the hearts and strengths of humans is our need to change things." It's true. Whenever I do anything that others think may be perfect I think to myself "How could I make this better?" or, "Is this really the best I can do?". It never is and there are always ways to improve things.

When I was younger and ever so often, I will grab a square sheet of paper and make a paper crane. I always saw it as just a way to relax and calm myself, it was just folded paper to me. Never did I think that it was a art form. If i got the paper wet I'd just throw it away and start over not knowing that when paper is damp, you can make soft shapes.

Origami is a metamorphic art form, you don't add or take away, you change it.
                                                                                                                 - Michael LaFosse

All across the world people do origami. There is even a Extreme Sport of Origami where people try to top each others creation each year. Or go just to show, share and partake in what they love. When many are asked where their inspiration and love for origami came from, many say Akira Yoshizawa, the so called "father" of paper folding.

Akira Yoshizawa is a self-taught Japanese man who was "ahead of his time". He loved origami so much that he left his factory job to pursue it and make it seem to come alive.
We need technique to create art. 
                                             - Akira Yoshizawa

Although the very detailed works of art that create the masterpiece known as Origami, what I found truly interesting was how some people found the simplicity in it. With just one fold you can create tons of different shapes, just by pressing in the crease. By using the one crease you can make whatever you want, even if it may look awful.

I believe that by the way things are going, one day origami will be a MASSIVE art form.

Be prepared world, origami is coming soon.


 

The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything (Ukulele Cover)


Well here it is guys, another video starring myself (girl on right), Mary (girl in center) and Adrian (girl on the left) doing a cover of a great and silly song. This time it only took us 7 takes and a few moments of laughter since I couldn't say veer or gangplank right. Other then that we had tons of fun with our paper pirate hats and  fake mustaches. Below are lyrics to the song just in case you wanted to sing along. 


LYRICS: 
We are the pirates who don’t do anything 
We just stay at home and lie around
And if you ask us to do anything
We'll just tell you we don’t do anything

Well I've never been to Greenland
And I've never been to Denver
And I’ve never buried treasure in St. Louie or St. Paul
And I’ve never been to Moscow
And I’ve never been to Tampa
And I’ve never been to Boston in the fall

We're the pirates who don’t do anything 
We just stay at home and lie around
And if you ask us to do anything
We'll just tell you we don’t do anything

And I’ve never hoist the main sail
And I’ve never swabbed the poop deck
And I’ve never veer to starboard
'Cause I never sail at all

And I’ve never walked the gangplank
And I’ve never owned a parrot
And I've never been to Boston in the fall

'Cause we're the pirates who don’t do anything 
We just stay at home and lie around
And if you ask us to do anything
We'll just tell you we don’t do anything

Well I've never plucked a rooster
And I'm not too good at ping ball
And I’ve never thrown my mashed potatoes
Up against the wall

And I've never kissed a chipmunk
And I've never gotten head lice 
And I've never been to Boston in the fall.

(spoken)
Huh? What are you talking about?
Whats a rooster and mashed potatoes have to do with being a pirate?
Hey, that's right!
We are supposed to sing about pirate-y things.
And who's ever kissed a chipmunk?
That's just nonsense! Why even bring it up?
Am I right? What do you think?
I think you look like Captain Crunch.
Huh? No I don't!
Do too.
Do not!
You're making me hungry.
Thats it! You're walkin' the plank.
Says who?
Says the Cap'n, thats who!
Oh yeah? Ay Ay, Cap'n Crunch! hehehehe
Arrrgggghh
Yikes!

And I’ve never licked a spark plug
And I’ve never sniffed a stinkbug
And I’ve never painted daises 
On a big red rubber ball

And I’ve never bathed in yogurt
And I don’t look good in leggings
(You just don't get it.)

And we’ve never been to Boston in the fall!