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Introduction to Origami takes flight
Reviews from the Introduction to Origami Workshop with Steve Bondy
By Helen Duckworth
Due to a sell-out of the workshop in November, instructor Steve Bondy hosted another introduction to origami workshop Saturday, December 14 at the Cranbrook and District Arts Council (CDAC).
Students came between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to get to grips with this ancient paper folding art form. People came from as far as Kimberley to participate and create.
Gretchen Whetham (pictured with her creations) who attended the class admitted, “I am not a creative person so origami appealed to me because there is a huge repertoire of shapes to make and lots of books and websites with instructions. However, unless you know what the various symbols mean, it can be very frustrating to learn on your own. Steve Bondy was very patient and showed us basic shapes step-by-step. He also showed us a sample of his creations, which has inspired me to practice and sign up for his next workshop.”
You can see for yourself one of Steve’s beautiful modular swans in the accompanying photograph.
“This is the first workshop I’ve attended at the Arts Council,.” Gretchen said. “Helen (the CDAC administrator), and other volunteers made everyone feel welcome and even provided tea and treats.”
Steve’s workshops have been so successful at the arts council that he is already booked in for two intermediate classes for 2014.
The first is Saturday, January 25 and the second is Saturday, February 22 both between 10 a.m. and noon.
For $25 you’ll receive all the materials you require and two hours of professional instruction. This course acts as follow-on from the introductory course, but is also suitable for people with previous origami experience. In this class Steve moves on from the simpler models from the introductory course to more complex models including an angel fish and, at special request of one of his younger students, a dragon!
Students taking this class have had nothing but praise for instructor Steve Bondy, as evidenced in the words of Terry Lynn and Gretchen, and confirmed by student and CDAC board member Tessa McGregor.
“Steve’s creativity and enthusiasm for this ancient art form was infectious. I can’t wait to sign up for his next workshop which will take us to the next level of origami construction,” she said, adding, “I had such fun at the Steve Bondy origami workshop. His step by step, patient instruction of basic shape construction had the participants, many of whom had never done origami before, turning out butterflies, page markers, pianos, Japanese cups, star boxes, and the ultimate challenge, at least for me, cranes. I will be making several page holders to insert into books that I will be giving at Christmas. I can make them from the beautifully patterned paper that Steve supplied, (as)… in addition to the origami treasures that we took away with us from the workshop, we were also supplied with a stack of various origami paper and easy to follow instructions to continue to hone our new found skills at home.”
Terry Lynn Jeffers, director of administration for The Symphony of the Kootenays took the workshop and paid it forward right away by sharing her newfound knowledge. “I took my origami pieces home and immediately spent over an hour having fun with my two granddaughters, teaching them what Steve taught us,” she says. “They were excited to discover how many fun things can be made with one pretty square of paper.”
Bondy’s consideration of his students and what they want to learn makes him a wonderful educator. If you’d like to experience one of his classes, please register in advance to avoid disappointment. If you would like to request the introductory workshop run again, you can do so by calling 250-426-4223 or sending an e-quest to [email protected] or via the workshop page on the CDAC website at: www.cranbrookanddistrictartscouncil.com.
Cranbrook and District Arts Council
