James Peake
James Peake is a paper folding expert based in Oberlin, OH, who specializes in folding and teaching origami, as well as curating origami exhibitions. After graduating from Oberlin College in 2006, James spent 11 years as the Education Director with the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts, where he started the ongoing “FAVA Folding Festival”.
An active member of the international origami community, James has organized and hosted over a dozen origami gallery exhibitions that feature master paper folders from around the globe. James has taught for organizations such as the Cleveland Institute of Art, the Sandusky Cultural Center, the Cleveland International Film Festival, and the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft.
In 2017, James opened Foldspace Origami Studio in Oberlin, which doubles as an art studio and lesson space for students.
Find a program taught by James
In this cross-curricular, mixed arts residency culminating in a celebratory performance, students will engage in the physics of flight with origami artist James Peake and dancer Tom Evert. Students will practice the elements of dance, engaging their full selves to embody geometric concepts and principles of flight. Next, students will turn gross motor concepts into fine motor as they apply those same concepts to create a dart-nosed paper airplane. In addition to exploring the forces involved in flying an airplane, they will practice using precision, creating sharp, exact folds using tools, physical coordination, and use relevant terminology for origami folding and dance, geometric concepts of axes and symmetry, and physical science concepts of flight. This residency provides space for student-led discovery, physical and conceptual ingenuity, inquiry-based engagement, and cooperative learning.
Participants will gain increased precision and attention to detail as they create a paper airplane.
Participants will apply understanding of symmetry, forces of flight, and axes as they create and propel a paper airplane.
Participants will model and perform movement solutions to demonstrate knowledge of the geometric and scientific concepts for their grade level.
Participants will demonstrate spatial awareness and bodily control as defined in the elements of dance.
Participants will demonstrate their understanding of concepts in dance, origami, science, math, and social-emotional learning through a summative performance at the conclusion of the residency.
Program Artist(s):
Throughout the process of folding an origami sailboat, students will engage in a discussion on various mathematical concepts including the properties of shapes and the identification of fractions. The lesson begins with a brief introduction to the art of paper-folding, then participants use a step-by-step method to fold a paper sailboat. Throughout the folding process, students are asked to make a series of observations and answer mathematical questions to connect back to curriculum learning.
Program Artist(s):
In this origami workshop, participants will engage in the physics of flight as they create a dart-nosed paper airplane. In addition to exploring the forces involved in flying an airplane, they will practice using precision, creating sharp, exact folds using tools, physical coordination, and use relevant terminology for origami folding, geometric concepts of axes and symmetry, and physical science concepts of flight. This program is best suited for participants in grades 3rd-10th and can be extended into a multi-day residency for upper level science courses.
Participants will gain increased precision and attention to detail as they create a paper airplane.
Participants will be able to apply understanding of symmetry, forces of flight, and axes as they create and propel a paper airplane.
Program Artist(s):
In this mixed media origami workshop, participants will learn and practice simple paper folding skills to create a school of fish. Origami artist James Peake will guide a lesson that combines art, fractions, and social-emotional learning to demonstrate how each person’s unique characteristics add to a rich community. The program will result in a display of colorful, individualistic fish.
Participants will be introduced to simple origami folds.
Participants will consider what it means to be part of a community.
Program Artist(s):
In this literacy-focused origami workshop, students will learn and practice simple paper folding skills that connect to the Dr. Seuss book One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. Origami artist James Peake will guide students in a lesson that combines art, literacy, fractions, and individuality to create a sea of Seussical folded fish.
Participants will be introduced to simple origami folds.
Participants will practice basic fractions.
Participants will engage in the translation of literacy to visual art.
Program Artist(s):
In this mixed media origami workshop, participants will create self-reflective pieces of art that provide them with an opportunity to tell their unique stories while applying understanding of fractions and line types, and help their instructors and peers get to know them better. This program will guide in creating folded autobiographical ‘zines. Concepts covered include: subdividing paper into halves, quarters, and eighths, autobiographies, parallel and perpendicular lines, self-reflection, storytelling, and personal narrative.
Participants will be able to create a self-reflective piece of art that provides students with an opportunity to tell their story while letting instructors get to know them better.
Program Artist(s):
In this mixed media origami workshop, participants will create a 3-in-1 origami model that transforms from a hat to a boat to a puppet. In the process of creating the final hexahedron form, they will explore both origami and math terminology and skills. Some of the topics covered will include: angle types, using a protractor, bisecting angles, triangles, demonstrating precision and accuracy, and learning about creased edges versus raw edges. This program may also be adapted to focus on social awareness and unique perspectives and opinions.
Participants will explore the versatility of an origami sequence through a “choose your own adventure” folding series.
Participants will gain a better understanding of geometric concepts including: types of triangles, halving shapes, and angle bisectors through the practice of folding.
Program Artist(s):
What’s in a fold? In this eight-fold origami residency, participants will work with artist James W. Peake of Foldspace Origami Studio to develop foundational paper folding skills while also applying geometric concepts to create imaginative, mixed-media artwork. They will combine traditional and contemporary paper techniques, developing portfolios of work. In addition to gaining critical math and art practice, students will practice storytelling and social emotional learning to turn a simple piece of paper into a unique, personal work of art.
Participants will
become familiar with a variety of common origami folds and have an introduction to basic folding skills
practice hands-on application of simple mathematical concepts as they are used in paper folding.
engage in imaginative storytelling based on their own creations and the creations of classmates.
develop a simple portfolio of artwork to share their creations and track progress.
Program Artist(s):
CAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BADGES EARNED
CAL's Teaching Artist Professional Development series provides a complete system to effectively prepare, professionalize, and recognize teaching artists' unique skill sets. Learn more about this initiative.
What do you love to learn? In this mixed media origami workshop, students will consider and celebrate their individual passions for learning. Exploring the concept of being lifelong learners, they will create origami hearts to proudly share the topics, skills, and ideas that they love to learn about, whether it’s drawing, math, riding bikes, video games, or vacuum cleaners. This social-emotional focused program allows students to become more self-aware, proud of their individual and unique interests, and share their passions with their community.
James Peake