Immigration Museum Origami Project

Joy is in creasing

Origami Paper Trail Melbvourne
I facilitated the Origami project, “Origami Paper Trail” for the Immigration Museum Melbourne.
It was a wonderful opportunity for me to promote the immigration, origami and exhibition.
We immigrate from the sea and sky, so we make boats and butterflies. Once we are in Australia, we welcome the new people, so we make hearts!
I hope we will have a lot of hearts in the installation.
Thank you, Keina from SBS Japanese Radio for the nice interview!
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Origami Paper Trail
22-28 July 2024
Melbourne Central
Pop in and fold origami! Free event
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Origami Paper Trail
SBS Japanese Interview
2024-07-26T12:45:47+10:00July 26th, 2024|Featured, Media, Origami, Service|

Origami Monument Project at Campbelltown

7m Origami Monyument in Campbelltown

My Origami miniature model With Timothy
It is a fantastic opportunity to be a part of the Campbelltown Art Project.
I designed an origami monument for Koshigaya Park in Campbelltown this year.
Koshigaya City in Japan and Campbelltown in Sydney are sister cities and the cities are celebrating their 40th anniversary.
My monument will be about 7 meters high. wow!
Here is the miniature model I created for the presentation.
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Origami Mobirus Ring
2024-04-13T09:40:16+10:00April 13th, 2024|Featured, Media, New Work, Origami, Service|

Sitter for Portia Geach Memorial Award

Portrait of Me at the Prestigious Portia Geach Memorial Award

Portrait of Midori Furze
Huge congratulations to, Stephanie Galloway Brown.
Stephanie was selected as a finalist in the 2023 prestigious Portia Geach Memorial Award with the portrait me, titled “The Paper Crane”.
This incredible exhibition will be held at the @shervingallery Sydney from 3rd November until 17th December 2023.
Stephanie wrote: Midori Furze is a Sydney-based multidisciplinary artist. Born in Japan, her early years were immersed in the traditions of Japanese culture. She draws Sumi-ink drawings on Japanese paper but Midori is known mostly for her unique origami projects within the community and her incredible installations. Her time is dedicated to teaching adults and children origami which is how I first met Midori many years ago in a paper crane origami workshop. A highly respected teacher, she has been invited to run origami workshops and projects in many places including for the Japanese Embassy. In 2022, she was one of 197 people in the world to be awarded the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for her contribution towards origami in Sydney and Australia-Japan cultural exchange. She was also awarded by the Consulate General of Japan, Sydney in 2016. Although Midori has made hundreds of thousands of paper cranes I wanted to feature her with just one crane crafted with deep care and respect emerging from the protective palms of the creator awaiting release into the world to symbolise hope and peace.
2023-10-22T08:44:59+11:00October 22nd, 2023|Featured, Media, Projects|

Farewell Mr Kiya

Sayonara Mr Kiya

FarewellMrKiya
Mr Masahiko Kiya has been an amazing Consul-General of Japan, Sydney.
He led, pushed and encouraged us to the success of Japanaroo 2022!
Mr Yamagami (Canberra’s Embassy of Japan) called him, “Mr Japanaroo”
Some of the Japanaroo staff and Japan Expo volunteers had Mr Kiya’s farewell party at James Squire’s Brewhouse in Circular Quey.
We can see the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House from there.
It has been a wonderful experience for involving in the Japanaroo events for 2 years.
We will miss you and wish you great success in the next city.
(The photo below is Mr Kiya at the zoom origami workshop at Japanaroo plus opening.)
Consul-General Kiya
2022-09-18T21:25:21+10:00September 18th, 2022|Media, Origami|

Japanese Foreign Minister’s Award

Big thanks to Consul-General Kiya

Japanese Foreign Minister's Award
I received the 2022 Japanese Foreign Minister’s Award.
I am one of 197 individuals to receive the award from all over the world and only one from Sydney.
It is for my long-time contribution to the promotion of origami art and Japan-Australia cultural exchange. I was very thrilled to be acknowledged and appreciated by the Japanese Government.
(Image left taken by Kazuya Baba, Nichigo Press)
ForeignMinisterAward
2022-10-28T15:51:11+11:00September 17th, 2022|Media, Origami|

Sydney Science Trail at Australian Museum

Origami and Science

origami koala
Australian Museum invited me to run the origami workshop for Sydney Science Trail on Sat 20 August 2022.
It was really nice venue and I met so many happy faces. Especially dad!
Big thanks to Alison, Creative producer at Australian Museum for organising such a wonderful event.
I was so thrilled to hear that she already asked me for the next year!
2022-08-24T21:36:06+10:00August 24th, 2022|Media, Origami, Workshops|

11 years since the East Japan disaster

11 years on since 2011

2013Corso

I folded a giant crane on the stage in Manly, Corso in 2013.
It was one of the stage events for the charity after the East Japan Disaster in 2011.
Manly beach is one of the popular tourist spots and you can walk to the beach from the Corso.
Many people saw our stage and we collected donations.
People are so kind about donations and they enjoyed many performances on the stage.
The donations went to the Rainbow Projet for inviting Japanese children in Fukushima who has lost their houses and families to Sydney for a holiday trip.

Installation in Corso, Manly
2022-04-01T11:48:32+11:00March 17th, 2022|Media, Projects|