My grandfather used to make delightful things out of paper, such as simple boats and airplanes. While he was happily engrossed in the folding, I watched with delight and imbibed his enthusiasm. On a hot summer day, he would make a hat out of newspapers, which I wore with gratitude and pride. This was in the Soviet Union. Seems like eons ago.
Years later, after we moved to the United States, in a library I stumbled upon a book which contained step-by-step folding instructions (diagrams) to make animals from a square sheet of without scissors and glue. Until this moment, I had never seen an origami diagrams book in my life, nor had known the word “origami”. This is how my origami journey began.
Over the years I bought more books and learned various paper folding techniques. Also, I started experimenting with my own models and teaching others.
Over the past decade, I conceptualized, organized and led interactive origami workshops, focusing on different aspects of the art, including connection to geometry, biology, and other sciences.
My approach emphasizes spontaneous play. I bring pre-folded models to my workshops and children spontaneously make up skits, where the paper models play roles as theater actors.
I often include origami action models in my workshops. These are paper toys that move in some way: fly, leap, flap wings, glide, talk, surprise, unfold in one move and collapse.
Playful Origami 