Many people practice origami as a way to relieve stress, but Philip Durst has taken his paper folding hobby to the next level by showing a piece called "High and Lonesome" at Michael Mitchell Gallery in Charleston. This three-dimensional work is made of origami boats folded from Dum Dum wrappers and glued to the pages of old legal texts. It will be on view until mid-August.

Durst became interested in origami as a way to express his creativity and break up the rigidity of his law practice. He's even managed to combine his work as as an attorney with his passion for origami by working on his pieces while sitting through the long, often-tedious meetings that are a part of any law practice.

Durst primarily works with found papers in his origami art, so he often makes a trip to the local 7-Eleven instead of stopping at a craft store to buy origami paper. He says he eats the candy first, but points out that Dum Dum lollipops has given him bits of labels straight from their factories.

You can learn more about Durst's artwork on the Michael Mitchell Gallery website.

The Origami Poems Project is using paper folding to make poetry more accessible to the general public. Lynnie Gobeille and Jan Keough, co-founders of the project, print poems on origami booklets folded from a single sheet of paper and then distribute the booklets for free by placing them inside weather-resistant plexiglass boxes with signs. The goal is to provide exposure for up and coming poets while helping to make the general public more interested in reading poetry. Each micro-chapbook has between one and five poems.

The Origami Poems Project is a Domestic Non-Profit Corporation registered in the State of Rhode Island. The group is currently awaiting a federal non-profit designation.

You can learn more about this innovative effort to get people excited about poetry by visiting the Origami Poems website. To learn how to fold your own tiny poetry book, review About Origami's How to Make a Booklet tutorial.

Photo courtesy of Dana Hinders.

Beginning paper folders often think of origami as something that is purely decorative, but many models are both beautiful and functional. Origami boxes are some of the most practical projects around. Check out our Different Types of Origami Boxes sideshow for examples and step-by-step instructions for several different types of origami boxes. This month, I challenge you to come up with a creative way to use origami boxes for gift giving, entertaining, or organizing. Email your ideas to me at origami@aboutguide.com.

Photo courtesy of Dana Hinders.

Origami, in addition to being a fun way to express your creativity, can also help you make a difference in the world around you. Recently, the Kent Reporter ran a story detailing how entrepreneur Lindy Styer is using her love of origami to provide employment opportunities for disabled people throughout Washington's South King County. Styer's company, FunFoldables, sells clever origami designs that serve as sleeves for two blank notecards. This encourages the recipient to regift the card for use as an ornament or gift tag.

Styer contracts with CenterForce, a private nonprofit in Lakewood, to hire and train disabled workers to package and fold the cards. The workers are able to take steps towards becoming more self sufficient, while Styer's customers get to enjoy a wider range of beautifully folded origami stationery products.

If you'd like to purchase one of Styer's origami kits, visit the FunFoldables website for more information. Personally, I think the undies would be adorable as part of a baby shower gift.