Origami Christmas Tree Opens at American Museum of Natural History: A First Look

NEW YORK — The American Museum of Natural History kicked off Thanksgiving week with the 52nd version of its traditional themed origami Christmas tree unveiling. Proboscideans on Parade.

The event began in 1971 after American entomologist and origamist Alice Gray built a three-foot-tall tree decorated with hand-folded paper insects. She showed her craft to a volunteer, who turned out to be a board member, and the rest is history.

The 13-foot origami tree is produced solely by international volunteers in partnership with the nonprofit organization OrigamiUSA. The models used are a collection of past years as well as new member additions.

Our sister chain NBC New York spoke with the two co-designers, Rosalind Joyce and Talo Kawasaki, of the beloved installation as the duo put together a quilt with hundreds of leftover origami elephants ahead of the public reveal.

“It’s magical. It’s a union between mathematics, art and some science. Many of these [modelos] They have stories that go with them: who dubbed what, how we got it around the world,” Joyce told News 4, who also noted that art is donated by amateurs and professionals.

This year’s theme coincides with the museum’s new exhibition, The Secret World of Elephants o The Secret World of Elephants, and features 1,000 trumpet-playing elephants inside more than 2,000 folded models in total. Inside the tree you can see popular museum highlights such as the blue whale and woolly mammoth.

Joyce and Kawasaki begin planning the next season’s theme a year in advance, paying special attention to the alignment of the model on the tree.

Each September, new origami pieces are expected to arrive at the museum, and co-designers examine the collection. In November, the two have just a few days to put the pieces together and put the finishing touches together.

“Origami, whether you’re folding it or just looking at it, will make you happy, and those are all the reasons why we’re involved with the tree as well,” Kawasaki said.

How much does it cost and when can I see the exhibition?

The visit to the tree is free with general admission to the museum starting November 20 and is located on the first floor of the Ellen V. Futter Gallery.

To see the English version visit this website.