As tiny and delicate as the cranes in her mobiles, Stacie began crafting miniature origami jewelry at the tail end of 2016. Moving into 2017 she will be expanding her collection to include a variety of styles of necklaces and earrings. Her personal favorites are the miniature glass cloche necklaces that contain dioramas of origami cranes, frogs, rabbits, water lilies and flowers. You'll find them and more at her Etsy shop.

_________________

TINYGAMI LLC - Greenville, MI
All contents on this website copyright © 2015-2016 Stacie Tamaki. All rights reserved.

Please: No reproductions of any type without written consent.

I have posted an online version of my exhibit (as part of a group show) on the Tinygami blog with the words I printed onto small signs to set above each framed piece along with my artist’s statement and a renzuru diagram so that people would understand that the strand of cranes in the “Interned” piece was folded from a single sheet of paper. 

The three shadow box framed pieces were are titled "Enemy," "Interned," and "Blending In."

From my artist's statement: 

"This collection comes from a more personal place than the sets of 1000 miniature cranes I’ve made in the past. When people I know say “We should round them (people of MiddleEastern descent and/or Muslims) up and put them in a camp in the desert” or that my family was interned to “keep them safe,” I am reminded that I need to continue to speak out about the injustices imposed on American citizens when 75 years ago President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 leading to the incarceration of over 110,000 Japanese Americans.

My reply is always that they are perpetuating the same fear and/or hatred that led to my family being placed behind barbed wire, with armed guards who would have shot them if they tried to leave, and losing over two years of their freedom. It was as wrong then as it would be to repeat the same injustice today."

Size:

height: 24 inches
width: 9.5 inches
cranes: 3/4" and 3/8" high

Materials:

paper cranes
origami wisteria & leaves
wire wreath form
grapevine wreath
wire
styrofoam
cardboard
metallic embroidery thread
monofilament

Description:

“Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” is a favorite book of school children around the world that shares the real-life story of Sadako Sasaki, a young Japanese girl, who attempted to wish for her health back after becoming terminally ill as a result of the atom bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. 

The book, written by American author Eleanor Coerr, was published in 1977 and has become part of the reading curriculum at many middle schools nationwide. Because of Sadako the origami crane has become an International symbol of world peace, particularly the single golden crane held in her outstretched arms.

Represented in my ArtPrize entry you see Sadako as a 3D washi paper doll holding a golden peace crane on the outstretched sleeve of her kimono.

This mobile in particular is unique because it one of the first two I made 20 years ago. I included it in my ArtPrize entry as many visitors wondered last year about the longevity of such delicate paper artwork. This set has been kept and displayed in a glass display case and out of direct sunlight since 1995.

It also has an additional 1000 cranes displayed, strung together in a nested style as they are displayed in Japan at her peace memorial pictured here. The picture was a gift from an ArtPrize visitor. Chuck came back just to give me a copy of the photo he had taken so I could show people what the memorial in Hiroshima’s Peace Park, surrounded by paper cranes sent from people around the world, looks like. 

_________________

TINYGAMI LLC - Greenville, MI
All contents on this website copyright © 2015-2016 Stacie Tamaki. All rights reserved.

Please: No reproductions of any type without written consent.

Size:

height: 35 inches
width: 6.75 inches
cranes: 3/4, 1/2, 3/8, 1/4 of an inch high

Materials:

paper cranes
weeping willow branches
air dry clay
acrylic paint
metallic embroidery thread
low melt glue
monofilament

Description:

Made of sweet rice pink and white mochibana symbolizes spring during winter by emulating flower blossoms while the blessing of ancestors, the power of life, and the coming and going of years are symbolized in the “mirrored” kagami mochi decoration.

My first challenge was to locate a weeping willow tree to collect branches from as I didn’t have one in my own yard. I was dreading that I’d have to knock on a stranger’s door and ask to have some of their tree so was quite relieved when friends had one on their property.

Next I created the willow wreath by carefully tying the branches together at contact points with 2 lb fishing line.

The cranes in this piece are a combination of pink chiogami (thinner easier to fold) paper and white tracing paper. I used the tracing paper to represent the translucent quality of mochi. Cranes are 1/4”,  3/8”, and 3/4” in height.

The small pink and white pieces of mochi attached to the willow wreath and the kagami mochi and tiny orange figurines are made of air dry clay that was hand painted.

_________________

TINYGAMI LLC - Greenville, MI
All contents on this website copyright © 2015-2016 Stacie Tamaki. All rights reserved.

Please: No reproductions of any type without written consent.

Size:

height: 32.5 inches
width: 6.5 inches
cranes: 3/4"

Materials:

paper cranes and flowers
wire
natural vine
gold delica beads
styrofoam
airdry clay
acrylic paint
acrylic disc
acid free craft glue
metallic embroidery thread
low melt glue
monofilament

Description:

A goal setting doll, the Daruma has two white eyeballs when purchased. You set a goal in your mind and color one eyeball in black. Next you set him where you’ll see him each day. The plain white eyeball reminds you that you haven’t reached your goal. When you have accomplished your goal you color the other white eyeball in black and his job is done.

While usually made of paper mache I chose to construct mine of air dry clay over a carved Styrofoam base to make it lighter than a traditional model. Unfortunately the color of the red clay was too blue of a red so it had to be hand painted a brighter and more vibrant orange red after it had  dried. 

The detail work on his face was all hand-painted as well. I will confess it had been well over a decade since I’d done detail paintwork so was glad it is apparently like riding a bicycle in that you don’t forget how.

The platform the Daruma sits upon is a clear acrylic disc I covered in washi origami paper. Each strand of cranes is suspended by a metallic thread attached to a single gold seed bead which I left visible on the top of the disc. 

The red flowers are also origami comprised of three sheets of paper each that are fastened together. I then added small gold seed beads glued to the tips of thing pieces of doubled gold origami paper to create the stamens.
_________________

TINYGAMI LLC - Greenville, MI
All contents on this website copyright © 2015-2016 Stacie Tamaki. All rights reserved.

Please: No reproductions of any type without written consent.

Size:

height: 27 inches
width: 8.5 x7.5 inches
cranes: 3/4" and 3/8" high

Materials:

paper cranes
origami (folded paper) sushi
cut paper sushi
beaded wire shrimp
styrofoam
air dry clay
acrylic paint
pine boards
metallic embroidery thread
low melt glue
monofilament

Description:

A “beckoning” cat often seen in Asian restaurants & shop windows.  Maneki-neko brings prosperity and good luck to those who keep one. The beckoning gesture of his upraised paw signals people passing by to come in and patronize the establishment.

Maneki-neko is made of air dry clay that was formed over a hand sculpted Styrofoam base. After drying the clay was painted to include all of the colorful details you see here.

I chose food to ornament the wooden “geta” serving platform (which was designed by me but made by a friend) to reflect the food theme of Japanese restaurants. The sushi includes both origami pieces as well as sculpted paper and beaded wire prawns.

The metallic cranes presented a unique challenge in that much of the paper is so highly reflective I had to wash and dry my hands constantly so that I didn’t leave fingerprints on the surface of the paper. 

Cranes are 3/8” and 3/4” high.

It was also the hardest set to hang because the cranes were strung closely together. They are hanging from metallic embroidery thread and glued in place with a  low-melt glue gun.

_________________

TINYGAMI LLC - Greenville, MI
All contents on this website copyright © 2015-2016 Stacie Tamaki. All rights reserved.

Please: No reproductions of any type without written consent.

Size:

height: 29 inches
width: 8 inches
cranes: 3/4" and 3/8" high

Materials:

washi and chiyogami paper cranes
chiyogami flowers and leaves
wire
handwoven vine structure
metallic embroidery thread
low melt glue
monofilament

Description:

Beginning with a bag of loose vine I hand-wove the structure for the
spring cranes to create a tightly woven wreath form.

The cranes in this piece are a combination of washi (thicker, fancier,
more difficult to fold) and chiyogami (thinner easier to fold) papers.

The wisteria is one of my favorite flower folds. The cones are comprised
of two sizes of blossoms made from three shades of purple origami
paper. The leaves are folded from four sizes of paper. It takes
approximately 30 flower blossoms to create each of the five cones of
wisteria.

_________________

TINYGAMI LLC - Greenville, MI
All contents on this website copyright © 2015-2016 Stacie Tamaki. All rights reserved.

Please: No reproductions of any type without written consent.

Size:

height: 30 inches
width: 8 inches
cranes: 3/4" high (each)

Materials:

chiyogami origami paper cranes, flowers, and leaves.
wire
raffia
Swarovski Austrian crystal beads
handmade bamboo arbor structure
natural vine
metallic embroidery thread
low melt glue
monofilament

Description:

Summer began with a search for bamboo garden stakes at the end of the season. It took a few tries but I finally located some at the Greenville True Value hardware store. I measured them, cut them down to size with my teeny tiny hacksaw, then fastened them together first with fishing line (melting the cut ends), then wire, then covered the joints with raffia to create the arbor.

I added vine and small flower blossoms I'd folded from paper shaded in pink, yellow, and orange along with folded leaves. After dividing out the 1000 origami cranes and hanging them I realized that while delicate and pretty the piece lacked the lush abundance of summer. So, I folded more flowers.

The second set of flowers I wanted to emulate the clusters of flowers found in the fabric used in kimono prints. Two styles combined with the original blossoms and I was more than pleased with the end result.

_________________

TINYGAMI LLC - Greenville, MI
All contents on this website copyright © 2015-2016 Stacie Tamaki. All rights reserved.

Please: No reproductions of any type without written consent.

Size:

height: 29 inches
width: 8 inches
cranes: 3/4" high (each)

Materials:

paper cranes
hand-cut paper maple leaves
handmade branch structure
metallic embroidery thread
low melt glue
monofilament

Description:

I used something called “bonsai” wood which appears to be sand blasted roots, not branches. Because they were lightened I had to stain them to a darker shade of brown to create the autumnal feeling the piece should have. It took a total of 10 separate pieces of wood fastened together to create the structure.

The cranes in this piece are predominately made of washi paper. It is thicker, fancier, and more difficult to fold than other papers. What it lacks in delicacy it makes up for in beautiful details.

The maple leaves were hand cut with small craft scissors from fancy “washi” origami paper using a small paper pattern of a leaf. The leaves were individually glued to the structure using a straight pin dipped in glue to adhere the adhesive to the branch, followed by the leaf to the glue.

_________________

TINYGAMI LLC - Greenville, MI
All contents on this website copyright © 2015-2016 Stacie Tamaki. All rights reserved.

Please: No reproductions of any type without written consent.

Size:

height: 29 inches
washi and chiyogami origami paper
width: 8 inches
cranes: 3/4" high (each)

Materials:

washi and chiyogami paper
Swarovski Austrian crystals
28 gauge wire
handwoven kiwi vine structure
metallic embroidery thread
low melt glue
monofilament

Description:

I knew I wanted a different type of vine for the winter cranes and found it in California (before moving to Michigan) while shopping at the Soquel farmers' market. Along with organic fruit, there were bundles of fresh kiwi vine for sale. Back at my tiny trailer, I soaked them in a bucket and began trying out different woven designs. The finished piece used 3 or 4 short sections of branches connected together to hide the start and end points.

Next I made Swarovski crystal branches using fine gauge wire and several shades of blue Swarovski crystal beads. After attaching them to the structure it was time to hang my final set of cranes.

I chose to leave some strands with the cranes closed and stacked upon each other. They create an almost cocoon-like dormancy compared to the strands with single cranes spaced apart with their wings opened.

_________________

TINYGAMI LLC - Greenville, MI
All contents on this website copyright © 2015-2016 Stacie Tamaki. All rights reserved.

Please: No reproductions of any type without written consent.

Each year I've been hosted at the Grand Central Market on Monroe Center NW between Ionia and Division. Look for me there again in 2016! 

Grand Central Market & Deli
57 Monroe Center St NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Map

Market Phone: (616) 454-5300

_________________

TINYGAMI LLC - Greenville, MI
All contents on this website copyright © 2015-2016 Stacie Tamaki. All rights reserved.

Please: No reproductions of any type without written consent.

Why do I fold such tiny origami?

Their size represents my belief that any gesture of kindness, no matter how small, is not without worth. I hope my art will inspire viewers to stop and see the delicate beauty of the world that surrounds them, to recognize the gestures of kindness that others extend to them, and to realize that they can return the same small kindnesses to others.

We live in a world full of grand schemes where bigger is often thought to be better and many people are so busy seeking status, fame, and fortune it makes it easy to overlook small gestures of kindness others extend to us. Some are so small they may seem insignificant, but I believe they all add up to create something wonderful: Peace in our day to day lives, even if only for a moment.

I want people to understand that we are all artists and creators. Even if you never pick up a paint brush, we all create on the canvas of life. Each day we possess the ability to create good will or resentment, beauty or ugliness, peace or discord, and happiness or despair for ourselves and the world around us.
 

Stacie Tamaki
 

CRANE DIMENSIONS IN INCHES

Micro 1/4" high
Itty Bitty 3/8" high
Tiny 3/4" high

Mobiles range from approximately 24"-35" in length and 6"-8" in diameter. 

METRIC CONVERSIONS

Micro 0.635 cm high
Itty Bitty 0.952 cm high
Tiny 1.905 cm high

Mobiles range from approximately 60.96 - 88.9 cm in length and 15.24 - 20.32 cm in diameter.

_________________

TINYGAMI LLC - Greenville, MI
All contents on this website copyright © 2015-2016 Stacie Tamaki. All rights reserved.

Please: No reproductions of any type without written consent.

These are some of the first sets of 1000 miniature cranes I created back in 1995 and early 2000's.

_________________

TINYGAMI LLC - Greenville, MI
All contents on this website copyright © 2015-2016 Stacie Tamaki. All rights reserved.

Please: No reproductions of any type without written consent.