Monthly Folding Challenge: January 2015
Posted: January 1st, 2015, 4:09 pm
Happy New Year everyone! I wish you all great joy and prosperity this coming year!
"Out with the old and in with the new" is the saying, right? Not this month!
The theme for this month is: retro
There are several interpretations for this:
• Objects that have nostalgic appeal. Obvious things like typewriters and phonographs, to Tommy guns and parachute pants. Anything that has been previously forgotten but is resurfacing.
• Aesthetics that are retro. Zig-zags and tie-dye, noir black and gray. Paper, background, and the model itself can be used to create a visual spectacle reminiscent of another time.
• Retro ideas. Religious, social, and philosophical ideas that are taking hold once again in the world. This one is a bit difficult, and my examples are limited to my experience in the United States. Things like the legalization of marijuana, which finds its roots in the hippie movements, to things like modern civil rights and gender concerns. This topic is up to interpretation, but may require explanation as to its connection to the past.
• Now for a lighter interpretation: Retro origami. This can be split into two parts.
o Bringing a model up to date. Traditional models from centuries ago could use a facelift! You can see this as an invitation to use a traditional model as inspiration for a new design that is evocative of the original, or an opportunity to update the model to remove any shortcomings you think it might have.
o Using outdated techniques. Two different techniques are usually frowned upon in modern origami. But now you can use both! You may use up to five different sized, shaped, and colored sheets to create a single model, with the exception of modular designs which have no limit. Head. torso, and appendages can be separate pieces, as well as any accessories. You may only submit one multi-sheet design; any other designs in further submissions or in conjunction with the multi-sheet design must be made with a single sheet apiece.
Cuts will also be allowed. However, only one step may contain cuts. This means as many cuts as desired are allowed, but all cuts must take place within the same step. If you fold the paper again or turn the model over, you are not permitted to use cuts again; repeating on symmetrical sides (i.e. identical flaps) is considered part on the same step. Any cuts that are drastically different from the original one made should be considered a separate step.
This last part of the challenge is a double edged blade. If used in moderation, cuts and multiple sheets can show how an artist can subtly infuse a taboo or foreign technique to enhance their model. However, they can also be seen as a crutch the designer is using in lieu of challenging themselves. Keep that in mind.
With all that said and done, I wish everyone the best of luck!
"Out with the old and in with the new" is the saying, right? Not this month!
The theme for this month is: retro
There are several interpretations for this:
• Objects that have nostalgic appeal. Obvious things like typewriters and phonographs, to Tommy guns and parachute pants. Anything that has been previously forgotten but is resurfacing.
• Aesthetics that are retro. Zig-zags and tie-dye, noir black and gray. Paper, background, and the model itself can be used to create a visual spectacle reminiscent of another time.
• Retro ideas. Religious, social, and philosophical ideas that are taking hold once again in the world. This one is a bit difficult, and my examples are limited to my experience in the United States. Things like the legalization of marijuana, which finds its roots in the hippie movements, to things like modern civil rights and gender concerns. This topic is up to interpretation, but may require explanation as to its connection to the past.
• Now for a lighter interpretation: Retro origami. This can be split into two parts.
o Bringing a model up to date. Traditional models from centuries ago could use a facelift! You can see this as an invitation to use a traditional model as inspiration for a new design that is evocative of the original, or an opportunity to update the model to remove any shortcomings you think it might have.
o Using outdated techniques. Two different techniques are usually frowned upon in modern origami. But now you can use both! You may use up to five different sized, shaped, and colored sheets to create a single model, with the exception of modular designs which have no limit. Head. torso, and appendages can be separate pieces, as well as any accessories. You may only submit one multi-sheet design; any other designs in further submissions or in conjunction with the multi-sheet design must be made with a single sheet apiece.
Cuts will also be allowed. However, only one step may contain cuts. This means as many cuts as desired are allowed, but all cuts must take place within the same step. If you fold the paper again or turn the model over, you are not permitted to use cuts again; repeating on symmetrical sides (i.e. identical flaps) is considered part on the same step. Any cuts that are drastically different from the original one made should be considered a separate step.
This last part of the challenge is a double edged blade. If used in moderation, cuts and multiple sheets can show how an artist can subtly infuse a taboo or foreign technique to enhance their model. However, they can also be seen as a crutch the designer is using in lieu of challenging themselves. Keep that in mind.
With all that said and done, I wish everyone the best of luck!
