Location: JFG Gift Shop (Inamori Pavilion)

Senbazuru literal translation is 1,000 Origami cranes. Folding a thousand origami cranes was more widely popularized in the poignant story of Sasaki Sadako.

Told in various forms this tale relates how two-year-old Sadako was exposed to dangerous levels of radiation during the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. She survived initially, but only to contract leukemia a few years later. She was inspired by the legend of the senbazuru and so began folding Origami cranes, presumably in the hope of being granted the wish of health on completion of one thousand. Sadako, sadly, did not succeed in her wish, however her inspiration leads many each year to fold colorful paper cranes and donate them in leis at shrines across Japan.

San Diego local artist, Christine Ott has been folding Origami for 7 years. She has always been interested in art and the creative process. She started folding Origami for fun, which quickly become her passion.

One of her latest projects was the folding of 1000 cranes to create an origami dress. This project allowed Christine to combine origami fashion and the meaning of the crane into a dress that can be worn and, hopefully, help bring awareness to issues faced by children. She feels that, if an art form can also give you a platform for raising awareness of issues important to you, if it can be shared through teaching and you can help others appreciate and experience the joy and meditative nature of the art of origami, then it will continue to be a passion. She loves teaching origami and is available for installations and corporate events. She is currently working on a Sustainable Wedding with The Valley Center Library for their annual flower show and folded hundreds of butterflies for their Bee and Butterfly Festival.