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| P.O.P. at the Knoxville Asian Festival. Marge is on the far left. |
Delirious with fever and struggling with the pain, I was admitted to the hospital for tests and observation. Since my aunt would be there with me, my parents returned to Philadelphia with my brother and sister. I was in hospital about a week.
I met a friend there and she and I hung out in the nursery/playroom during the long days. One afternoon an older man entered the room and waved us to come over to a nearby table. I thought we might be in trouble or something but my curiosity was aroused when the man said, “So what do you want me to make for you today?”
I was confused because all the man had with him was a few squares of paper. Missing were the usual crafty accessories: scissors, glue, tape, etc. Since neither one of us answered him, he just picked up a paper and started folding it. Soon the table was covered with all sorts of models: a blow-up box, a flapping bird, something that looked like a church... I wanted them all and since my friend could care less, I took them back to my room. I never asked the man what it was he was doing. I was too engrossed watching him make all the folds.
Throughout the following years I'd think about that guy once in a while and the models he made. I tried to recreate them but couldn't. Paper was something I used for all sorts of crafting but I couldn't fold anything other than the party hat/ship model that Mom taught me. I wanted to make the models the man made.
After our daughter was born my husband Ralph and I spent a Saturday hanging out at John Wanamaker's department store which may seem like a odd thing to do. But we wanted to check out the store's latest theme, Japan Dynasty, and all the floors were decked out with kimonos, fans, prints, sculptures. I still have a shopping bag with the theme on it.
I saw an arrow sign with the word, “Origami” on it. Curious as to what origami I followed the sign and … “That's the stuff that man was doing!!” I nearly shouted it out to Ralph. We were about to leave the store and had no time to try folding paper. Now I knew the name of the craft but it would be some years before I pursued the practice of it.
When our third child was old enough, I was employed in an after school program. Two boys were on the floor playing with Lincoln Logs and building what I thought looked like a boat pier. I picked up a piece of construction paper and folded the one model I knew: the boat. I made a couple and gave them to the boys. Later, they came to me and asked if I knew how to make any more origami. I told them no, that's all I knew.
But I knew where I could find more information, and straightaway after the last child left I headed across the street to the library. I was friends with the children's librarian. I asked her to give me everything she had on origami, both adult and children's books. I took that pile of books home with me and began my origami journey in earnest.
Soon I was giving demonstrations and teaching models in classes in schools, at the library, at art festivals. I found the address of Origami USA and became a member and I tried to find a folding group here in Philadelphia. I contacted OUSA and was told no group existed and, “Would you like to start one?” I didn't think I could, but they put me in touch with another interested Philadelphian and soon the Greater Philadelphia Paper Pholders was born.
We got the word out and filled up the library's community room. I met new folders like me and several seasoned folders who were light years ahead of me. Our little group participated at all sorts of venues demonstrating and teaching and growing the origami community.
In 1999 I moved to Tennessee and a new paper folding chapter began. For a little while and until we were settled in, I did very little folding. But soon I was looking for opportunities to share this wonderful craft.
I participated in community art activities teaching some basic models for a couple years. At one of these activities I met a lady who asked me to speak to her Red Hats group. I met them at a Chinese restaurant. They were impressed, but only the lady who invited me, Patricia, had any real interest.
We began meeting at her house and I voiced my desire to see a folding group happen in Crossville. She offered her home as the initial meeting place and soon The Plateau Origami People was born. Most of the members were new to origami and so much of the time was spent in learning basic models with me as teacher. But now many of these one-time beginners are teaching others.
We participate in different community activities here in Crossville and at the Asian Festival in Knoxville. We decorate a Christmas tree each year at the Parade of Christmas Trees sponsored by a local bank. We never win any prizes but we have the most creative tree.
Origami has been such a gift to me. Through it I've met people from all over the world via the OUSA conventions and through the two groups I've started. It has an international characteristic and often breaks down the language barrier between people. I can't imagine my life without it.
To think it all started with an older man asking that simple question:
“So what do you want me to make for you today?”
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In her day job, Margaret "Marge" Bogansky Hofknecht cares for individuals with developmental disabilities as they strive to live their best lives. In her spare time, Marge teaches origami to children and adults in and around Crossville, Tennessee. In 2017, she was nominated for the Renana Benjamin Award through OrigamiUSA for outstanding origami instruction. Marge is also an avid crocheter and an active member of her church.
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This blog post was curated and/or edited by The Ardent Reader, Esther Hofknecht Curtis, BSOL, MSM-HCA. The views expressed in this blog post are those of the guest blogger. Visit www.parrotcontent.com for more information.
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