Welcome to today’s story of ARTY-FACTS- a collection of obscure and wonderful facts about different art forms. This week’s focus is on ORIGAMI
Origami: The word origami was coined from the Japanese words oru (to fold) and kami (paper). As the name implies, it is the ancient art of folding paper. The origins of origami can be linked to many countries around 
the world, such as China, Spain, and Japan, but it was most fully developed as an art form in Japan. Folding techniques were passed orally from mother to daughter and weren’t written down until the mid-1800’s. Today, master paperfolders demonstrate extremely technical and well developed models and sculptures with paper.
But origami is not just a beautiful art form. One interesting use for it? In medical exams! In Japan, many hospitals are testing future surgeons with making micro-origami. The video shows the high-stakes exam that makes sure a surgeon can perform intricate manipulations of tiny objects under time pressure.
On the other side of that equation, patients can also benefit from the practice of origami. Just like knitting or crocheting, origami acts as a hand exercise to help patients recovering from injuries or surgery. Therapists have found that the steady, repetitive, focused activity can help those with anxiety, ADHD, depression, and addiction. In an article in Voice of America, Ken Fowler (a man recovering from depression) described origami as a metaphor for life. “If you can’t figure out where you’re at, and you’re wondering where you’re at in your life,” Fowler says, “you just unfold it. You can always roll out the creases, unfold where you’re at, and start folding to make a new pattern.”
If you’d like to give origami a try, here are a couple simple patterns to get you started. Enjoy!
Thanks,
Marla Bender
To read more on health benefits, try these links:
http://www.voanews.com/a/for-one-man-origami-unfolds-a-better-life/1579066.html
http://www.origami-resource-center.com/health-benefits.html