Holiday Tree 2009

The Origami Holiday Tree is an annual event produced by OrigamiUSA at the American Museum of Natural History. Each year, OrigamiUSA and our team of volunteers designs and produces a stunning tree in the main hall of the Museum, decorated with hundreds of origami figures folded and sent in by members and origami aficionados from around the world. This gorgeous spectacle has been an institute in New York City for many years, and is a linchpin of the relationship between OrigamiUSA and the Museum of Natural History.

Using all the letters of the alphabet, the 2009 Origami Holiday Tree theme of “Origami from A to Z” provided a backdrop for grouping animals having names that started with a particular letter. As a challenge, some animals were placed near a letter based on scientific name, group, or category. Inspired by the exhibit “Extreme Mammals, the base of the tree reflected the rich diversity of mammals: land, air, sea, as well as past and present. The invitation to embark on an alphabetical journey and name as many origami models as possible became a unique, entertaining, and interactive event for visitors and museum staff alike. Thanks to all folders for contributing tree and Annual Gift models.

All photographs are by Andrew Cribb, used with permission.

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