Cranestorm
An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. The crane in Japan is one of the mystical or holy creatures (others include the dragon and the tortoise), and is said to live for a thousand years. In Asia, it is commonly said that folding 1,000 paper origami cranes makes a person's wish come true.
A Year-long Community Awareness Project Through Art
In keeping with the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota's mission to enhance the quality of life and bring the promise of a better tomorrow for all people affected by brain injury, we are seeking your help in creating Cranestorm–Wishes in Flight.
Cranestorm–Wishes in Flight will launch immediately through the support of various groups like yours to help us fold and collect origami cranes. Our goal is to accumulate 100,000 cranes, one for every Minnesotan with brain injury. The cranes we receive will eventually become part of an ongoing art installation.
At various events throughout the year, we will have the donated cranes on display and - when possible - crane folding activity stations. At these events, individuals can choose to honor a loved one, share a message to someone with brain injury, or make a wish for themselves or others by selecting a crane and writing on the crane's wing.
Our collection of cranes is meant to convey the spirit of well-wishing while visually quantifying the number of individuals affected by brain injury in Minnesota. We also hope to raise awareness of brain injury and educate communities about brain injury prevention.
Your participation can provide many opportunities for education in areas of health, history and culture, art, disability awareness and the importance of community service. A free speaker can even be provided for your group to help launch your participation.
The collection of cranes will culminate en masse in our annual CreateAbility Event where we will create a visual display of the cranes–a Cranestorm of Wishes in Flight!
Become part of Cranestorm by folding cranes for our events to show individuals affected by brain injury that you wish them well! Here's how:
- Click here to view a demonstration video of how to create your crane.
- We will accept cranes of any size.
- While we prefer the use of solid colored paper, we understand the selection of paper is a personal choice.
- If you would like someone to come speak with your group, please contact Anna.
- When you are finished with your cranes, complete this registration form, enclose it in your box with your cranes and ship to:
Brain Injury Association of Minnesota
Attention: Volunteer Program 34 13th Avenue NE, Suite B001
Minneapolis, MN 55413
We are grateful for any help you can give to make Cranestorm–Wishes in Flight a hopeful, uplifting and educational experience for all! Your group will receive a certificate of participation and be recognized publicly.
Should your group wish to have a free speaker come and share their personal experience with brain injury and talk about the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota, please contact Anna at 612-378-2742 or 800-669-6442 to make arrangements.
Thank you!
PS. Please do not string or attach the folded cranes together as we will need to assemble them on site.