West campus news Releases Archive

Origami class to unfold in Sun City

Nov. 14, 2005

Sun City residents will have the opportunity to learn the ancient art of paper folding when the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Arizona State University presents “Introduction to Origami” on Nov. 18. The class will be taught by ASU Librarian Deg Farrelly , an active origami folder for more than forty years. “Origami has spontaneously evolved in every culture that has paper,” Farrelly said. “Virtually any piece of paper can be folded into something.”

Farrelly contends that efforts during the middle of the 20th century to standardize instruction on the folding of origami coincided with Western popularization of the art following World War II.

“Abstract crude geometric representations of animals have given way to complex models that could easily be confused with biological specimens, Farrelly said. “They are remarkably lifelike.”

Farrelly will teach students how to fold a jumping frog made from a business card and a flapping butterfly finger puppet.

“It is not necessary to have special papers and complex models to appreciate the inherent joy of origami. It is possible to create objects that range from elegant simplicity to amazing complexity,” Farrelly said.

For registration and class information, contact the Lifelong Learning Academy at Sun City, (623) 974-6985 or visit online at www.west.asu.edu/lifelong/osher.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Arizona State University serves residents in Sun City, Sun City Grand and Sun City West. A grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation allows ASU to expand and enhance its lifelong learning programs to serve residents across the Valley. The Osher Foundation collaborates with universities nationwide to offer intellectually stimulating learning opportunities for older adults.

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