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|

How small can you fold?

Children are amazing!

small origami

I love visiting schools and school holiday care centres.
We always have fun and some kids are amazing.
For today’s workshop, I brought different-sized paper.

The smallest I brought was 3x3cm.
But some children kept challenging themselves smaller and smaller!

Such amazing talented kids and everyone has crowded around and cheered them.

Looking forward to seeing them again soon.

Workshop at school
2023-01-26T21:35:14+11:00January 26th, 2023|Origami, Projects, Service, Workshops|

New Exhibition “Rhythm of Sumi Ink”

Midori’s exhibition

Japanese Ink Drawing Exhibition
“Rhythm of Sumi Ink”
29 Nov – 17 Dec

at Kyushu Japanese Restaurant (9-11 Grosvenor St Neutral Bay. The restaurant opens 12noon till late on Tuesdays to Fridays. 12noon to 3pm on Saturdays. Close on Sundays & Mondays. The exhibition can be viewed during the restaurant’s opening hours.)

Sumi-e is the Japanese art of black ink drawings on thin Japanese papers.
Inks can’t be erased from the paper once you apply it and the rhythm of the strokes are very important as well as the colours and the sizes of the strokes.

2023-05-13T12:02:56+10:00November 19th, 2022|Exhibitions, Projects|

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|

Happy 1st anniversary, T Magazine!

Created an origami work for the magazine

Tmagazine

My response to the Talented Jordan Turner’s request for their magazine.
T Magazine turns 1. Congratulations, T Magazine!

Paper is a canvas to create, a page to write on. It is a medium to cut, fold and reinvent. Whatever the way you choose to tell the story you want to share, we can all connect with one thing. The act of holding that piece of paper in front of you and watching ideas come to life. That is the paper’s performance.

You can find his full article on T Magazine: https://taustralia.com.au/t-turns-1-papers-performance/# 

JordanTurnerwithmyOrigami
sideview_roses
2022-04-01T10:50:26+11:00March 16th, 2022|Media, New Work, Projects|

Dinner meeting with Consulate-General of Japan, Sydney

311 event team since 2011

Dinner with Consul-General

The news about the East Japan disaster in 2011 moved many people to do action.
I was one of them, I felt I wanted to do something to help people in Japan…. I think many Japanese who live overseas felt the same way.
Then I contacted Yukiko Hirano, a local Manly resident who started collecting donations for Japan. I saw her article in the local newspaper in March 2011.

Since then, I have helped Yukiko here and there for her events.
She has invited young Japanese to Sydney as exchange students, so they can enjoy playing in nature, learning the different cultures. She made programs, found host families and selections of places to visit, etc. She had run through with her amazing energy and lots of love.
Mr Masahiko Kiya who is a current Consul-general of Japan, Sydney has invited us to the dinner.
The attendees: Consul-General of Japan Sydney Kiya Masahiko, Yukiko Hirano, Ren Yano, Tae Gessner, Haruka Shinno and Midori Furze

We talked about future events in Sydney for Japanaroo 2022.

I found my Kimono bird in the room. So delighted to meet her again!

Midori's crane
2022-03-15T11:15:40+11:00March 15th, 2022|Media, Projects|

The Joy of Flight Exhibition

PPA group exhibition

Little Dream Collectors
Primrose Paper Arts held the opening of our current Mezzanine exhibition ‘Joy Flight’ on Saturday afternoon 12 March at Primrose Park.
It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny and was very well attended by the members, families and friends, who were excited to be invited to this event as so many art openings have been cancelled in the last few years.

Most attendees had never been to the site and were all very impressed by, not only the studio, but by the beautiful surrounding park. They loved the variety of work displayed in our exhibition and said how joyous, fun and uplifting it was.

We felt the opening was a perfect opportunity of engaging with our local community to give more awareness of the fantastic facilities available at the studio.

The exhibition will be on display in our Mezzanine space until the end of March so come on down and have a look.  The studio is open to our Paper Arts group on Mondays and Thursdays after 10 am.

PPAopening
2022-03-15T10:27:10+11:00March 15th, 2022|Exhibitions, Projects|

Paper Crane Installation at Sydney Town Hall

Art Installation at Sydney Town Hall

Tea room & origami installation

Art installation at the beautiful Sydney Town Hall.
It was a part of Japanaroo+ Festive Season Concert installation.

It was a big sweaty day and fight against a clock, I was at the Town Hall from 8 am till 11 pm at night!
However, I really enjoyed being a part of the team and the venue was amazing.  The concert with many talents was amazing.

papercranes
2021-12-29T13:57:56+11:00December 18th, 2021|Origami, Projects|