Please join us for the gallery opening of P.S.165M’s “1,000 Cranes”, at the Positive Exposure gallery at 14 East 109th street on May 15th 2-4pm. Admission is free, for any questions please reach out to Positive Exposure.

Covid has impacted us all deeply, and in a variety of ways. We are no exception here at P.S. 165. Some have experienced devastating loss. Some thankfully have not. Either way, our brave young children are masked and separated and confused, as their entire worlds have been turned upside down. 

We thought of an old Japanese tradition, often associated with a young girl named Sadako who died of Leukemia after the bomb dropped in Hiroshima. The legend goes that if 1,000 origami cranes are folded, a wish can be made. As a school, as a community, with staff and students and parents involved, we slowly began the process of folding these cranes. The kindergarten and first graders drew on paper cut to a square for origami so that all could be involved, with the older students folding that art into cranes. In the beginning, they were clunky and uneven and oh so sweet. As the weeks went by, they became more streamlined. Students began bringing origami paper with them to lunch and recess and home. The cranes began pouring in, and brought us all together in a new and special and hopeful way.

Our collective wish? Strength against the devastation of the pandemic. Students were encouraged to also make individual wishes as they folded. Perhaps they were folding a crane for someone they knew who was ill, or who needed support. Perhaps they just wanted an XBox or a puppy. Much like each of their experiences varying with Covid, so did their wishes. 

We have strung our beloved origami cranes from a fallen birch branch. Birch trees hold different meanings throughout the world, including protection, new beginnings and hope, good luck and healing, regeneration, and adaptability… traits that we all need now more than ever. Here we proudly display our journey, and share it with wishes to spread some hope and joy to you and yours as well. 

Ms. Lisa, Teacher of Fine Arts, P.S. 165M