Next Meeting - Saturday 16th April 2005 at 2.00pm

Note the next meeting is on the Third Saturday of the Month due to the date of the BOS Nottingham Convention. The meeting will take place at the Festival Hall, Southbank (Near Hungerford Bridge). Meet at the entrance on the mezzanine level (near the bookshop). If you would like a copy of a plan of the meeting venue please click here

March meeting report
The theme of last months challenge was 'proverbs'; Ben Calder created 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush', by drawing upon techniques used by Jeremy Shafer. Ben has been experimenting with foil backed tissue paper and used it here to create a small scale model seen in the first photo below. Sharon Turvey dazzled us with her 'Diamonds cut diamonds' model created from translucent plastic as seen in the second photo. Phil Swinbeck had similar thoughts to Ben using Tun Ken's hand and cranes shown on the third photo. Peter Buchan made two models. The first shown in photo 4 is a sprat; when turned over it also depicts a mackerel - 'A sprat to catch a mackerel'. Peter also created the swallow in Photo 6. Steve Brown produced 'Lightning never strikes twice' (photo 7).

Paul Hanson required us to think a bit deep to understand his interpretation of 'A stitch in time' shown in photo 8. The needle is clear enough, but he tells us the mobious strip represents the infinity of time. If we had run a challenge to create something depicting the works of HP Lovecraft, then surely Ben Calder's creature (photo 9) would have captured the subject perfectly, although he claims no influence from that source. Ben also brought along some insects which he created from foil backed tissue paper from Robert Lang's designs (photo 10). They look so realistic, they even fooled a crane into thinking they were harmless (photo 12).

A scattering of models were created at the meeting, the most difficult was Yoshihide Momotani's Hare and required some thought and study of the photographs in the book to understand it. However our youngest member Peter had no difficulty at all! (Photo 11).

Folding challenge No. 12 - Musical instruments

Create a musical instrument - it may be a visual representation or be capable of producing a sound.

Mark Bolitho was persuaded to choose the theme, and will be offering a prize to the creator of the model which he considers to be the best.

If you would like to have a go at the challenge but can not make it to the meeting we would still like to see your model. You can post it to Steve Brown (address in the BOS mailing list). Only packages which can be posted through a standard UK letter box will be accepted. Do not send your only copy of a model. And It can not be returned without an S.A.E.

We have now complied a list of subjects for future challanges. If you have an idea for a challenge - e-mail us now!

Have a go, even if you do not normally create models — this may be the inspiration you need.
The following provide useful information on designing models.
Wayne's - Creating Origami
David Petty's - Creating Origami
Lionel Albertinos lessons from Design in Origami
David Brill on creativity from British Origami Society Magazine 101
Martin Wall on creativity from British Origami Society Magazine 102
Robert Lang on creativity from British Origami Society magazine 128
Interview with Eric Joisel from British origami Society magazine 189

Book - Creative Origami by Kunihiko Kasahara Chapter V (15 page guide to creating)

Book - Origami Design Secrets - by Robert Lang

The Annual Challenge - Gerry Anderson

The annual challenge is based upon a well supported monthly challenge and expanded with the idea of producing a display for a BOS convention. A theme will be chosen each year which was both well supported and has further potential for expansion. The first theme will be Gerry Anderson. London members are invited to add further models to the theme and all the models will be brought together under the heading of LondonOrigami on the convention display tables.

We have created a list of models already completed and subjects for further models. If you would like to contribute send us the name of the model you wish to make and we will add it to the list. This is to avoid more than one version of a model being made - and create as wider range as possible. See list

The latest addition - The Lunar Module from UFO

What we did on Red nose day 2005

LondonOrigami were asked to teach origami at Guy's and St. Thomas' hospital as part of this event. We created three new models and a red nose. Read the full story.

LondonOrigami Wallpaper

Computer desktop wallpaper featuring dynamic scenes of origami.

Diamond

Muzak for origami

Do you listen to music when you do origami? Are you soothed or, even, inspired to create in a mellow melodic whisper of rippling creases? LondonOrigami would like to exclusively uncover this hitherto unspoken folding phenomenon. Here we present a selection of specially chosen music. Would you like to tell us of your own favourites? E-mail us with your reviews.

Jean Michael Jarre - Oxygene

This artist is one of the few electronic musicians to have gained commercial fame, although to this day only one of his tracks are still played on commercial radio stations; Oxygene (Part 4).

The reason I believe this track became successful is its commercial nature. To make it in popular music you must have a catchy tune, and this is exactly what Oxygene (Part 4) has. The track opens with a short repeating tone, then we are straight into the chorus, then a fallback piece (the verse) then into the chorus again. Classic A, B, A, B song structure.

The remainder of the tracks are of a more complex structure and are therefore of less commercial nature but ultimately more rewarding and stand repeat listening. All are well structured tracks ranging from floating melodies to rhythmic and melodic. There is a peaceful undertone to the entire album and yet it still manages to peak in dynamic waves.

The textures of the sounds are now noticably 1970's synthersizer technology, and just as with any classical reference period, Oxygene stands as a marker in time, the sampled sound technology present in most commercial music today was in its infancy when this album was conceived - here we are presented with pure electronic sounds - voices created by Jean Michael himself, and will forever sign his name in musical history.

This would be a good choice for anyone new to 'classic electronic music'.

Paul Hanson

LondonOrigami CDRom Project

Less than two month left for LondonOrigami members to submit all your material. The deadline is 1st May 2005. By this date all your diagrams, written information about each model, details of your self, photographs and other material you would like to include must be submitted.

Photographing models - One important aspect of this CD is good photographs. For those who are intending to photograph their own models for the CDRom the following link provides some valuable information on how to photograph small objects artistically. Nikon Digital photography

Origami Cranes required for the After Hiroshima exhibition

The After Hiroshima exhibition is planned for July 2005 at the Brunei Gallery at the School of African and Oriental studies, in London.  It will be an art exhibition commemorating 60 years since the dropping of the atomic bomb.   Part of the exhibition will include a display of origami cranes in memory of Sadako Sasaki and victims of Hiroshima.  To achieve this we require as many cranes as possible.  All contributions of cranes are welcome and all contributors will be acknowledged within the exhibition. The Cranes collected will be displayed and will be sent to Hiroshima after the exhibition tour.

A preferred format would be from 15 cm origami paper.

Please send your origami cranes along with your name and address to allow acknowledgement to;

Copad Arts
After Hiroshima
31, Hertford Avenue,
East Sheen,
London.
SW14 8EF
United Kingdom

The closing date for contributions is June 30 2005.  However for work to be acknowledged in the exhibition catalogue it should be received by the 31st March 2005.

For more details see  http://www.afterhiroshima.org/exhibition.htm

Sadako Sasaki's story - including how to fold a crane

• If you are a beginner it is useful to see how other people fold models.
• If you are having difficulty with a model perhaps someone else can help.
• We are fortunate in the London area to have a number of enthusiasts who design models; therefore a new model appears at most meetings together with diagrams.
• If you design models yourself the meetings are an opportunity to test diagrams and receive feedback on your design.
• Perhaps you would like to create your own models but don't know where to start - others will be able to give you some advice.
• Borrow books from the British origami Societie's library - a selection of books will be brought along to most meetings.
• Order a book to borrow from the Librarian and collect it at the meeting.
  
• Ultimately Mini meetings are an opportunity to meet other origami enthusiasts.
  
  We hope to see you there.
  
  If you have any questions please contact Steve Brown (Tel. No. is in the BOS Magazine), or send an e-mail.
  
  

Website of the month

Another London Origami website? Well not quite all of London. This site is by the Imperial college interest group, and features a downloadable mp3 recording of a BBC Radio program - Fold here first. If you can manage the download time it is very interesting, and includes Robert Lang, Dave Brill and Nick Robinson talking about the art.

Imperial College London Origami Society

London members websites

In this section we are featuring the web sites of members in the London area. If you have a web site please send us the link.

Robin Glynn

The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the British Origami Society.

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