Joe Riley

“Nature, itself, inspires me. The green leaf hues, the flight of a Jay, the varied shape of rock and grittiness of soil. There is art in nature, and it can inspire. One needs only to observe. As I fold an origami crane I imagine the wings beginning to feel for air and the head and tail each giving personality then the crane taking flight at the end fold.”

Joe’s origami path began after surgical repair of a chronic dislocated shoulder. Being upright, mostly in a comfy chair, he could move his hands and forearms enough to fold. Joe’s origami creations range from flowers to dragons and a few personal folds, while continuing to evolve with the incorporation of other media such as metal, thread and feather for mobiles and stabiles. “Trying new paper can be a waste of time or an epiphany, though I find that as an origami challenge and thrive for more. It is all research and development to me!”

Joe was fortunate to help Andreas Amador during last years Trails and Vistas event, with accompanying  chimes, for Andreas’s Earthscape installation. “What an experience, but more, what an honor. I felt at times like Pan or Robin Goodfellow, playing bard to my fairy lords court.”

Currently, Joe creates origami art for Artists In Cellophane but his big job is homeschool/stay at home dad for his son Odin and anchor for his partner, Amee, as she runs the non-profit, Neighborhood Center of the Arts in Grass Valley. “I feel grateful I’ve found an art genre that I not only love to do but it can be shared with family and friends and done anywhere. There is always a flat piece of paper that could use some personality.”