Lou Adams, MFA

Lou Adams, MFA

The ancient tradition of hand folding Japanese papers into cranes embraces a prayer for peace, long life, good fortune and personal happiness. Every year 1000 cranes are folded as an offering for a wish to be granted. Folding cranes is an act of praying for peace in troubled times.

“When I first learned to fold a peace crane, I became obsessed and couldn’t stop folding. I thought I could fold enough to prevent war. After the war began, I realized folding was a way of holding peace in the moment. I began praying. I have been folding for 9 years. As time passes, it becomes more important to hold a space for peace.” (Lou Adams, 1996)

Lou felt she needed to put something out into the world that sparked a spiritual consciousness. She started offering peace cranes at craft fairs, which took her to visit the winter home of the sandhill cranes at the Bosque Lou Adams art spiralbeadsDel Apache Wildlife Preserve in New Mexico, where 19,000 cranes fill the skies. “I witnessed a larger cycle of life and was transformed. My work reflects the losing of the self into a greater purpose.”

Lou’s origami work can be seen at both the Gallery of the Ascending Spirit (Suite C-205) and the Gallery of Wholeness, Harmony, and Radiance (Suite A-117) at the Tlaquepaque Arts Village. Her origami work was featured in the film “The Song Within,” a gorgeous visual investigation exploring the basic belief that wisdom is everywhere. The film highlights 16 extraordinary Sedona women whose stories teach, entertain and inspire.

Artist Lou Adams holds a Masters of Fine Arts from Claremont Graduate School. She has been a resident of Sedona, Arizona since 1988.