“FLorigami” Turtle

Cut out to make two squares.
“FLorigami” Turtle
These instructions will help you fold a paper turtle, called a
FLorigami turtle. This design is for a soft-shelled turtle found
in many parts of Florida, including the Florida Everglades. The
shell of this type of turtle is soft, not hard. It has been chosen
to represent the endangered Everglades because it is symbolic
of long life, of longevity. We wish long life and good health to
the Florida Everglades.
Origami is a traditional Japanese paper folding craft. Because
this is a turtle found in Florida, we call this Florida origami, or
FLorigami.
We hope that you and others will fold 1,000 FLorigami turtles
which will join with those made by many different people to
create 10,000 origami soft-shelled turtles. You may make two
turtles, one to keep and one to contribute to the project. When
you fold your FLorigami turtle, think and hope for a long life
for the Florida Everglades environment.
FLorigami is a project of origami artist Michael G. LaFosse
and The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, sponsored
by the Palm Beach County Cultural Council.
Michael LaFosse began creating 25 original origami paper sculptures in his Origamido studio in Haverhill, Massachusetts. LaFosse,
a biologist by training and a paper-folding master who has exhibited his delicate origami all over the world, visited Palm Beach
County over the course of 1 year, to observe, sketch and fold plants and animals from the Florida Everglades ecosystem. While in
town, he led workshops at The Morikami’s Origami Extravaganza, as well as in schools, and other local events to teach students the
arts of paper-making and origami folding.
LaFosse’s origami sculptures, specially created for The Morikami, depict the flora and fauna of the Everglades with all the variations
of size, color and form. The show is intended to increase public awareness of the plight of the Everglades by educating visitors about
the threatened species that make their home there and how they are connected to one another.
For more information about The Morikami Museum and Japanese gardens, its exhibitions and programs,
call 561-495-0233 or visit www.morikami.org
Location: 4000 Morikami Park Rd
Delray Beach, FL. 33446
Hours of Operations: 10 a.m.—5 p.m., Tuesdays through Sunday
Origami Alligator
Designed and folded by Michael LaFosse from a
single 5-by-5 foot square of hand-made paper.
Approximate folding time 50 hrs. The alligator
was 17-inches long.
Origami Whooping Crane
Designed and folded by Michael
LaFosse from a single 5-foot
square sheet of handmade paper.
The crane stands approximately
16” tall.
Origami Manatees
Designed and folded by Michael
LaFosse from a single squares of
handmade paper, 15” & 8”. The
mother manatee is approximately 9”
long and each took approximately 2
hrs to fold.
Origami Florida Panther
Designed and folded by Michael
LaFosse from a single 2-foot
square sheet of handmade paper
colored with iron oxide. The mask
took 2 hrs to fold and stands
approximately 9” tall.
Origami Ghost Orchid
Designed and folded by Michael
LaFosse from a single 10-inch
square sheet of handmade paper
that was then pigmented with
titanium dioxide. The orchid took
hours to fold and is approximately
4” long.