ADVERTISEMENT

    Columbus Makes Art Presents Monica Salisbury on Origami and Her Inspirations


    “Origami encourages logical thinking, spatial analysis and patience. It’s fun and immediate.”

    — Monica Salisbury, Founder, Ohio Paper Folders

    Ohio Paper Folders is a non-profit origami arts education organization providing programs around the state as well as offering coordination and support for origamists. OPF Vice President John Scully chatted with origamist Monica Salisbury about her work and why her focus is origami. Monica will be teaching with Ohio Paper Folders in the months ahead and will exhibit at the upcoming origami convention, CenterFold, which will be held at the Columbus Crowne Plaza North Aug. 4-7.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    John: What drew you to origami? Where has your work been exhibited lately?
    Monica: I started doing origami when I was eight. It was cheap — I just needed some paper and often used school paper to make pieces. The last exhibit I was part of was at The Paper Circle in Nelsonville. I sell origami works in original designs; the most recent sale was a swallow made with an antique map.

    John: What is your profession? Do you see any similarities between your work and origami?
    Monica: Over the years I’ve worked in various fields including investment counseling, meat packing/slaughterhouse, law office manager, buying media for advertising, to name a few. I no longer work at other professions. I started OPF, and the nonprofit and my art take most of my time. A simple, albeit corny, comparison is making an analogy between precreasing a model and how work experiences can be seen as precreasing. They influence the way the model comes together.

    John: Your work is meticulous with presentation and forms given specific attention. Do you have any formal arts training? Do you see any influence or benefit to your origami work from your other pursuits?
    Monica: I studied art at Ohio State, among other things. And I do practice other arts, including metal casting, ceramics, painting, sculpture and photography. Influences can come from all kinds of places: texture, light, movement; all come into play and can shape and change the decisions you choose.

    A work of art folded by Monica Salisbury.

    John: You’re also a superb cook; you’ve shared dishes with the group on several occasions. What’s your favorite food and do you prepare it yourself? If not, where do you go to get it?
    Monica: There are too many wonderful dishes to choose just one, but among my favorites is Chicken Bryan from Carrabba’s. I figured the recipe out and make it at home.

    John: Do you have additional time to work on your origami since the pandemic has closed so many activities?
    Monica: The pandemic may have closed things down and confined people but it didn’t make the days any longer, so I didn’t get any extra time. Just a different assortment of things to be dealt with.

    Work by Origamist Monica Salisbury.

    John: Do you think that the community at large could benefit from learning origami?
    Monica: Absolutely. It encourages logical thinking, spatial analysis and patience. It’s fun and immediate. It’s wonderfully satisfying to complete a model.

    John: Do you have a pet and if so does your pet enjoy origami?
    Monica: I live on a ranch and I have five large dogs. The dogs enjoy origami very much. They think it is delicious.

    See Monica’s work at Ohio Paper Folders’ annual CenterFold origami convention, held at the Columbus Crowne Plaza North, 6500 Doubletree Ave., Columbus, OH 43229, Aug. 4-7. If you’re interested in origami and would like to help Ohio Paper Folders you can call them at (740) 334-4213. For information on meetings or CenterFold visit www.ohiopaperfolders.com.

    Columbus Makes Art Presents is a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council – supporting and advancing the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. The column is a project of the Art Makes Columbus campaign, telling the inspiring stories of the people and organizations who create Columbus art. Learn more about local artists, organizations, public art and events at ColumbusMakesArt.com.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Subscribe

    More to Explore:

    IncludeHealth Makes Physical Therapy More Affordable, Accessible Through Technology

    Heading to physical therapy used to mean needing to get in the car, make your way through traffic, arrive at a certain location—and then do it all again to go home. But for many people, there’s a new option.

    Eco-Chic at the Nexus of Style and Wage Justice

    HER Denim, a minority- and female-owned social enterprise led...
    John Scully
    John Scullyhttp://www.ohiopaperfolders.com
    John Scully is vice president of Ohio Paper Folders.
    ADVERTISEMENT