Encore Presentation of Between the Folds Tonight on Independent Lens on PBS

“For folks interested in the intersection of arts and science, the PBS series Independent Lens is presenting a fascinating in-depth look into origami titled Between the Folds.”
- Make Magazine

It’s National Youth Art Month, and tonight Independent Lens is celebrating with a special encore presentation of Between the Folds –– a film that will make you look at paper folding in a whole other way. Do you think origami is just paper planes and cranes? Meet a determined group of theoretical scientists and fine artists who have abandoned careers and scoffed at graduate degrees to forge new lives as modern-day paper folders. Together they reinterpret the world in paper, creating a wild mix of sensibilities towards art, science, creativity and meaning.

Watch this special encore presentation of Between the Folds, tonight, March 9, at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings).

Tags: artists, independent film, origami, paper folding, scientists

In the News: The Latest on ITVS Programs

TV Guide: Independent Lens: SCENES FROM A PARISH [PDF]
Irish-Catholic churchgoers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, struggle with the “love thy neighbor” concept.
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Paste Magazine: The Ten Best Food Documentaries of All Time
THE REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN and KING CORN are among ten films listed on Paste Magazine’s Best Food Documentaries. Both films previously aired on Independent Lens.
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The Wall Street Journal: Speakeasy: Filmmaker Vanessa Gould Goes BETWEEN THE FOLDS of Origami World
Although origami, or paper folding, is primarily seen as an old-fashioned pastime, the art form is still making its mark in pop culture.
Read full review >>

NPR: The Picture Show: The Most Exciting New Art Medium: Paper
The extent of my origami experience consists of those little square fortunetelling devices from fourth grade, so I had my doubts about the prospect of an origami documentary. But Vanessa Gould’s BETWEEN THE FOLDS — and I risk sounding like a total nerd here — is awesome.
Read full review >>

Tags: foodie, NPR. religion, origami

BETWEEN THE FOLDS Premiering Tonight on Independent Lens

“For folks interested in the intersection of arts and science, the PBS series Independent Lens is presenting a fascinating in-depth look into origami titled BETWEEN THE FOLDS.”
- Make Magazine

Think origami is just paper planes and cranes? Meet a determined group of theoretical scientists and fine artists who have abandoned careers and scoffed at graduate degrees to forge new lives as modern-day paper folders. Together they reinterpret the world in paper, creating a wild mix of sensibilities towards art, science, creativity and meaning.

BETWEEN THE FOLDS premieres tonight, December 8, at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings).

Tags: artists, independent film, origami, paper folding, scientists

Quiz: Can You Match the Folds?

BETWEEN THE FOLDS, premiering Tuesday, December 8 at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings), chronicles the stories of fine artists and intrepid theoretical scientists who have abandoned careers and hard-earned graduate degrees to forge unconventional lives as modern-day paper-folders.

Take our new quiz and see if you can spot the patterns.

Every finished origami object begins as a line or series of lines on a single plane. With each fold, the final shape begins to emerge.

Once you’ve completed the challenge, download some fold patterns provided by some of the artists featured in BETWEEN THE FOLDS and see if you can master the craft.

Take the quiz and start matching >>

Tags: artists, independent film, origami, paper folding, scientists

BETWEEN THE FOLDS Screenings Explore the Art of Paper Folding

In cooperation with OrigamiUSA and The Mathematical Association of America Community Cinema presented 42 free screening events for BETWEEN THE FOLDS a documentary by Vanessa Gould that delves deeply into the magical intersection of mathematics, science, and art that is paperfolding which is also known as origami. The film drew huge crowds across the country.

Rodger Despres, a local Michigan paper folder, displays a 45-foot long paper model train that took him 1,500 hours to construct.

Our first free event for BETWEEN THE FOLDS took place at the fabulous Urban Institute for Contemporary Art in Grand Rapids, Michigan where Community Cinema is in its 3rd smash season. Emily Maurin, Community Cinema Producing Partner with WGVU, told us, “We were extremely lucky to have two amazing paper folders with us––Richard Alexander, one of the film’s participants, and Rodger Despres, a local paper folder who has constructed a 45-foot long paper model train. They each offered a different perspective on paper folding. Richard spoke about his artwork as well as his experiences making his own paper. Rodger discussed how he has used paper to engineer working train cars and tracks. He was very excited since Richard was the first paper folder he had met! They talked about how paper folding is almost a secret society that is just now emerging as a mainstream art.”

In the video below, director Vanessa Gould gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it was like making the film, how she worked with artists and a discusses a variety of issues related to independent filmmaking.

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Tags: artists, independent film, origami, paper folding, scientists

Test Your Paper Folding Skills: Thanksgiving Turkey

Throughout the month of November, Community Cinema has been screening the Independent Lens film BETWEEN THE FOLDS, which chronicles the stories of fine artists and intrepid theoretical scientists who have abandoned careers and hard-earned graduate degrees to forge unconventional lives as modern-day paper-folders. The film will have its television premiere on December 8 at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings).

Just in time for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, here is a fun video to learn how to fold paper turkeys. Check it out and impress your family and friends!

Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at ITVS and happy folding!

Tags: origami, paper folding, Thanksgiving, turkey