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Jake Schenthal

@jakefolds

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nyc-based origami artist using paper folding to talk about climate change

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Dreaming of a Better World II, 2024

Part of a triptych about a fictional idea of humans reading about our inability to act on climate change here on Earth.

Folded from an uncut 60cm square of lokta-unryu paper. The design utilizes both a square and hex grid, with the star coming from the middle of the paper. by @jakefolds

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a year ago

Dreaming of a Better World I, 2023

Designed and folded by myself from a single sheet of uncut lokta/ogura lace paper.

The global climate crisis often prompts immense feelings of despair, hopelessness, and doom. It’s not hard to become hopeless by some of the climate projections, but we must change this attitude if we want to implement large scale climate action. Lots of the trends of carbon emission reduction are looking up too, such as the recent news that wind and solar power are expected to overtake coal by 2025 as the world’s largest source of electricity. We must remain optimistic about climate change if we want to solve it.

#origami #foldingfriday @origamiusa #paper #paperfolding #climatechange #climateoptimism #art #origamiart by @jakefolds

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3 years ago

Indian (Rajasthani) Shepherd, 2023

Designed and folded by myself from a single uncut 60 x 60cm lokta/unryu paper.

I originally designed this piece in February for my exhibition at @_the.heart.space_ in April this year, but recently redesigned it for the @origamiusa convention in New York this past June. I’m much happier with this version, and spent about two weeks folding it. For reference, the head is only about the size of a coin!

Similar to my past few pieces, this piece was really inspired by the farmers I had the chance to talk to in India during my Fulbright research, particularly near Jaisalmer. Many farmers (and pastoralists) in the region have struggled with recent droughts and unpredictable weather patterns as a result of climate change. Climate change and unsustainable land use directly impacts the availability of water and food for livestock (notably sheep, goats, or cattle). Because of that, most pastoral communities in Rajasthan nowadays have multiple income streams (I.e tourism, agriculture) to help offset this. by @jakefolds

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3 years ago

“Cracked earth” (3/3)

When unpredictable droughts occur, farmers work other jobs, leave farming, and/or move to larger cities. This ultimately leads to a loss of culture. To prevent this, farmers must have greater financial support, access to rainwater harvesting structures, and assured selling prices (known as MSPs). To mitigate climate change, we must quickly reduce our carbon emissions, and ensure a just transition to renewable energies.

Folded from an uncut 15 x 15 cm abaca-hemp square from @paper_circle by @jakefolds

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4 years ago

“Turban lying on cracked earth” (2/3)

From nine months of living and researching in Rajasthan, I found most farmers do not have the means to adapt to droughts today. While climate change is the primary culprit, labor shortages, a shaky reliance on groundwater, and poverty also impact the ability for farmers to adapt. In the past, farmers in Rajasthan could predict the exact timing of the monsoon season; today, climate change has caused the monsoon season to arrive later, making it harder for farmers to know when to plant crops. Droughts have always occurred in Rajasthan but are becoming more unpredictable. Most farmers interviewed near Jodhpur and Jaisalmer describe increases in temperature, decreases in rain, and greater unpredictability of the monsoon season, all of which are known effects of climate change. The turban here represents the loss of culture associated with climate change induced migration from rural areas to urban ones.

Folded from an uncut 20 x 20 cm abaca-hemp square paper from @paper_circle by @jakefolds

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4 years ago

“Farmer praying for rains” (1/3)

This series represents agricultural drought in a warming climate and was directly inspired by my own scientific research in Rajasthan. Historically, many farmers in Western Rajasthan used rainwater harvesting techniques to farm in the Thar Desert. This led to the Thar Desert becoming the most densely populated desert in the world. However, today, many of these techniques have mostly disappeared, and many farmers are unable to farm like they used to. Most farmers today in Rajasthan do not have access to rainwater harvesting techniques, known locally as khadin and johad.

Folded from an uncut 45 x 45 cm abaca-hemp square from @paper_circle by @jakefolds

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4 years ago

“Siberia 2021”

In June 2021, almost a year ago, one of the most destructive wildfires burned through thousands of square km of Siberian forest in an unprecedented scale due to human induced climate change. At the time, they were the larger than all the other wildfires in the world combined, and for the first time, wildfire smoke had even reached the North Pole. As Siberia warms with temperature, there are growing fears that the trapped methane in the permafrost may further accelerate climate change - forest fires certainly exacerbate this as well.

This is my second piece in my wildfire series focusing on the impacts of climate change. Tree with face folded from a 50cm square of elephant hide paper, and flames folded from painted squares of @archespapers watercolor paper. by @jakefolds

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4 years ago

“Paradise, CA”

Folded from an uncut 50cm square of @paper_circle O-gami paper.

In 2018, a strong wildfire (dubbed the Camp Fire) burned through the entire town of Paradise, California. It was one of the deadliest wildfires in both California and US history. With climate change, the unpredictability, and potentially frequency/intensity, of droughts is expected to increase, along with events like these. I hope this piece can draw attention to the individual lives (here, the faces) that disasters like these affect. by @jakefolds

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5 years ago

“Tree of Knowledge”

I hope to transition my origami sculptures from random individual models to ones that exhibit more meaning, so stay tuned for a shift in my style over the coming months!

Designed and folded by myself from an uncut sheet of elephant hide paper (70 x 70 cm) by @jakefolds

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6 years ago

“Quarantine”

The dollar houses were designed by myself in 2012 and refolded in 2020 for a commercial commission. by @jakefolds

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6 years ago

“Flight”

Designed and folded by myself in 2019 for a commercial commission, from an uncut 20 USD bill. by @jakefolds

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6 years ago

Octopus designed and folded by myself in November 2020. Did you know octopi are some of the smartest invertebrates? They’re also vital to coral reefs, which are under threat from human encroachment and anthropogenic climate change.

Folded from a 40cm uncut square of o-gami paper.

#origami #paperfolding #localart #art #octopus #folding #origamiusa by @jakefolds

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6 years ago