World War II was brought to an abrupt halt when the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. The first, Little Boy, was used to attack Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. The second, Fat Man was used to attack Nagasaki, Japan on August 9. 1945.
It is estimated that up to 200,000 people were killed either instantly, or as a direct result of injuries obtained during the bombing.
However, the atomic bomb left long lasting effects on the people of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. For years after, many people developed leukemia as a direct result of radiation exposure. Children were especially susceptible to developing leukemia, or the “atom bomb disease”.
One of these children was Sadako Sasaki, whose story is immortalized in a novel titled “Sadako and The Thousand Paper Cranes” authored by Eleanor Corr. At Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park there is a statue of a young girl holding an origami crane above her, commemorating her and other children lost due to bomb radiation.
The story goes that Sadako learned if she folded 1,000 paper cranes, she would be healed. It is unclear whether she folded them all herself, but Sadako did die from leukemia in 1955 and she was buried with 1,000 folded paper cranes.
Origami paper cranes are a traditional Japanese design, and cranes are known as mythological, mystical creatures. When made in groups of 1,000, the legend is someone who is ill can make a wish to recover from their illness. The papers used to fold the cranes are typically solid colors.
In quilting, there is a technique called foundation paper piecing. It uses a piece of paper to develop an often intricate quilt block. One design that can be foundation paper pieced is that of an origami crane.
About 3 years ago, professional quilters Jim Smith and Andy Brunhammer, started the Hope quilting project. Jim and Andy adapted the paper crane design to suit their creative needs, including making AccuQuilt crane die cutters in four different sizes.
Jim and Andy’s crane quilts are nothing short of a masterpiece… masterpeace?
Quilts like the striking grey scale, Not A Partridge and it’s 30 cranes, is reminiscent of the barren landscape remaining after two Japanese cities were destroyed to rubble.
The End of the Cold War has an amazing 258 cranes! Sunrise, 51 cranes, and Rainbow Cranes, 24. Rainbow colors are so peaceful, and the Rainbow Cranes quilt really brings out the color variations in origami cranes.
Cranes Symposium contains 25 quilted cranes, Vivaldi’s Cranes, 20, and A Flock of Cranes has 24. Vivaldi’s Cranes is an organic art quilt, with paper cranes surrounding a leafless tree branch.
WOW! is a completely white on white quilt with 100 pure white cranes on a white background: Just Had To Tell You – WOW! – We’re Working on a New Quilt . This quilt must be magical. We can’t wait to see it, guys!
They are currently working on Cranes Spectrum, a series of quilts in primary and secondary colors, and I believe the status is that 153 cranes have been made for the “Red” series.
I’m losing track, but I think they are up to 685 cranes? But only Jim and Andy know the true count!
The crane quilt journey for Jim and Andy has been one of creative inspiration, coupled with a message of Hope. Jim has been blogging the progress at Origami Cranes – Our Obsession, Cranes Project Update – Cranes Spectrum Plus, shares on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/QuiltsbySB/ , and they are working toward a show in January of 2019.
Additional Update: Three other Cranes quilt pieces are being added to the collection created by Marijke van Welzen, the Netherlands; Madhu Mathur, Rajasthan; and Peg Green, Florida.
We are inspired by your peaceful quilting adventures, Jim and Andy!
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