50 North members practice ancient art

FINDLAY — Luk Boggs and members of 50 North are creating a siege of cranes. But these aren't the long-legged, long-necked birds. Using the ancient art of paper folding, members are fashioning flying cranes which are one of the most famous of all of the origami models. Boggs, who is the activities director at 50 North, offered a lesson this week on folding the decorative birds using squares of pink, green, gold, blue and yellow copy paper. Members later tried pieces of scrapbook paper as well. "It's going to be a nice project," he said, adding that it's also a good project to kick off the New Year. Before making any folds though, Boggs suggested that everyone should write something on the back of the paper which, once completed, will be hidden inside. This could include a prayer, a thought or a wish, he said. "Traditionally they would write something but then they would put it in the river and it would float down," he explained. Boggs started the class off using a square of paper measuring 8.5 by 8.5 inches. Members also tried their hand at larger and smaller pieces of paper. Boggs said he picked this craft specifically as a way to help seniors use their fingers and practice dexterity. "And it's something that is easy to learn," he said. "It really is easy to learn once you sit down and do it." Origami is also an inexpensive craft. "You know, everyone has paper at home. Anyone can do this origami at home. Children of course tend to learn it easier than us old dogs," he laughed. Boggs hopes members will take time when they're at the center to learn the process and make some cranes. There's paper located in the lobby area, and he will be available to teach the process. "And you know when you see something happening, it entices you to try it," he said. Cranes will be accepted throughout February. Boggs plans to pin the finished figures onto a large canvas that he'll paint black in order to make the colors pop. He's hoping a lot of cranes will be completed because the installation will be large. The canvas will hang on the gallery wall just outside of the art studio. Boggs also has plans for later this year — he wants to make Chinese lanterns with members. "These are the kind where you light the lantern and it floats at night and it's a luminary," he said. "But that will be a summer project when we can go outside. I'm excited for that as well."