Year: 2008

stop-motion video of origami tessellation folding

Published by ericgjerde

Folding Mélisande’s Bird-Base Stars Originally uploaded by EricGjerde I have a lot of superfluous photos from the book writing/documenting process – including many extra photos from the step-by-step photo shoots for the various projects included. So here’s a bunch of them for the model “Bird Base Stars”, by my good friend Mélisande (or also Mélisande* on Flickr.) She graciously gave me permission to use this design in the book, along with a few other delightful patterns as well. Nothing serious here, I just like to look at the way the pictures flow when I look at them in Aperture or flick through them on my computer, and I thought I’d try to share the same perspective with you. Funny thing about this model: I folded this version (the easy one) and then a larger, more complex model from the same paper, and that beautiful blue just rubbed off all over my hands! between photographs I had to wipe my hands clean with rubbing alcohol. It looked like I was turning into a Smurf. I hope …

Goran Konjevod: Hierarchical

Published by ericgjerde

hierarchical Originally uploaded by goran konjevod. Goran Konjevod has done a lot of work over the last few years combining math and art – the output is fantastic things like this new piece, called “Hierarchical”. I love the way it all flows from a strict, ordered process and yet produces such an organic, vibrant result. From a distance I would have a hard time believing this is paper, much less a single uncut sheet of it! Goran also has an exhibition running currently in Phoenix, AZ, which includes this work. I’m looking forward to my next opportunity to check out his art in person – probably at the Origami USA convention this June in NYC. Maybe I can even get him to share some of his design secrets!

Branching out

Published by ericgjerde

I’m still folding paper – see some of the work at the end of this post! But I’ve just started taking GMAW/MiG welding classes, and it’s a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to learning some metalworking skills and applying some of my love for geometric design… and seeing what comes out of the combination! I have a lot of fond memories of my grandfather working in his shop welding things, and my first attempts at welding tonight (while messy) made me feel a connection with him, and it was a happy-making experience. And then this – my first exposure to a computer-controlled plasma cutter! It was love at first sight! I have, however, been doing work in paper as well. I took a week in early February and went on a personal “art retreat” in NYC, and I was able to get some interesting work done. I also came away with a lot of ideas for new work, which is still continuing. Here’s a design for a bowl (of all things) which I am …

Beautiful octagonal design by Mélisande*

Published by ericgjerde

Can’t help but post this beautiful octagonal star design by Mélisande*: She calls this piece “Stars, Flower and Octagons”. It’s an extension of a design she was exploring in December, based on an irregular negative-space octagonal star – the shape created when you connect lines from all four corners of a square to the midpoints along the sides. She further details the origins of this shape via some geometrical explanations on this flickr post: It has been used quite a bit historically, including this Moorish mosque (now a church) ceiling in Toledo, Spain. (Image used under CC license permission from albTotxo’s flickr photostream.) And of course I would be remiss not to mention Mélisande’s new blog, starting 1/1/2008! La Chronique de Mélisande* I’d be hard pressed to find a nicer person out there. She has this to say about her art: I’m not claiming my art to be only a product of my own genius, nor have I proprietarian pretentions on it : many of my ideas actually come from friends of mine and I’m …