About this Event
The answer to this question undoubtedly will surprise you. Origami is far more than a leisure pastime. It can yield not only art but also fashion and packaging as well as prototypes for airplanes, drones, medical devices, buildings, and solar panels on spacecraft — not to mention the James Webb Space Telescope.
How did something as simple as folding a sheet of paper become so useful? Origami master Bernie Peyton has been exploring this subject for decades, including while he worked for 25 years as a wildlife biologist. He and his wife Susanne Tilney spent decades studying endangered species, such as spectacled bears in the Andes. These creatures and their habitat became a library of imagery that Bernie draws upon to form his elaborate origami pieces, ranging from small, lifelike insects to animals, many of which are more than a meter high or wide.
At Arts & Culture on Wednesday, June 5, at 7 p.m., Bernie will take us behind the folded curtain to reveal the many dimensions of his lifelong passion. He will illustrate his talk with pictures of wildlife and his works of art, and he will explain why paper is the perfect medium to illustrate the fragility of nature. Moving beyond his own creations, he will discuss the broader applications of origami, now and in the future.
Tickets for this program are $5 for club members and $10 for non-members. Please register early so we can be sure to accommodate everyone comfortably. Wearing masks for this event is strongly encouraged.
Bernie is renowned in the origami world and has participated in 31 exhibits of origami art. In Taiwan in 2016, he co-curated Origami: Living World, the largest exhibit of origami ever held.
“Bernie Peyton is one of the most innovative origami artists in the world,” says Robert Lang, a colleague of Bernie’s and one of the pioneers of the marriage of origami with mathematics. “He brings a deep understanding of his natural subject matter, which he infuses into his origami creations, bringing them beauty, character, and — most of all — life.”
Bernie has published two books on his origami creations, and . The latter focuses on the hats he designed for patients at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, where he has volunteered for more than a decade.
Don’t miss this event that will both delight and amaze you. You may even be inspired to try your hand at this ancient art of paper folding.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave, Berkeley, United States
USD 5.00 to USD 10.00
