Modular Origami: Art for Inmates
by admin on 07/11/08 at 11:42 pm
Modular Origami is an art and discipline. It can be created from scrap paper and many inmates practice this age old art of folding and interconnecting the pieces. Inmates use magazine scraps, potato chip bags, and even cigarette packs to create their visions. Very few examples of this form of prison art can be found online (most I’ve found are of poor picture quality or small in size) so I’ve included mostly professional work along with the convict-like examples, and readers should have little issue distinguishing from between the two. These images show that art has few boundaries and that prisoners are creative beyond figuring out what to fashion their next shank out of. Inmates are masters of recycling and I can only hope to discover further quality examples of their work.
Below are examples of what may be found in prison…
Prisoners use cigarette wrappers, potato chip bags or any kind of paper that works. They weave the scraps to make baby shoes, frames, cup holders, jewelry boxes, scrap books, crosses, and miniature churches and houses. Native American inmates refer to the craft as “tejido,” or netting, which was used for weaving fishing nets and other items.
Image linked to source's Flickr photostream: Thank you Caramimi!
Image linked to source's Flickr photostream: Thank you Caramimi!
Image linked to source's Flickr photostream: Thank you Caramimi!
_md.jpg "Modular Origami")
3 Comments
Milena
Nov 9th, 2008
They are simply amazing pieces of art. The table lamp is my favorite but there are many beautiful things here. “Masters of Recycling…” It makes sense of course.
matt mernagh
Nov 10th, 2008
nice! very enjoyable. when i spent thirteen days in Canada’s worst The Don Jail an inmate made me a Cellmark birthday card. i was very happy. but he was an alleged rapist. i grow grass. it passes the time wisely. most people get knocked out in the shower, hit on their way somewhere, range violence is generally low.
sweetleaf
Nov 10th, 2008
i too know of inmate art on a personal basis and i thank you for this acknowledgment of the creative talent we have locked up in this country.
the tejido is bad ass as it is beautiful. amazing the balance induced by the soft created from the hard, the intricate from the chaos, the strength of the spirit overcoming the soul sucking.
i know this to be a livelihood of many who are incarcerated. prisoners are engaged in their art, for reasons beyond what the average individual in the free world can comprehend. the inmates, in general, are not fairly compensated economically way too often, (horse hair art being an example), but the rewards for the individual lie in the spirit, i spose.
again thank you nick, for giving this time in space. the origami displayed is awesome. this is my first visit here and i look forward to returning to your site.
Leave a Comment