Two delicately folded origami kimonos are presented to the viewer in a dark teal window mat and frame. The kimono on the left was made with a blue and white decorative paper featuring white and blue pine needles and blossoms. A much darker color palette characterizes the example to the right, with its mixture of floral, bird, and lotus leaf patterns arranged in blacks, blues, reds, and greens. Metallic gold embellishments unify the two origami sculptures, nearly identical in shape and the quality of their crisp, neat folds.
After moving to Washington, DC following World War II, Ira Blount mastered dozens of artisanal crafts. His love for crafting, learning, and community engagement would endure over the course of his long life and career.
