A Dance of Cranes in Chapel

As members of the EHS community enter Callaway Chapel over the coming weeks, they will look up to see their own handiwork flying above them.
A dance of origami cranes — over 1,000 of them — hang in long lines from the ceiling in the narthex. The “Crane project” was a joint venture through the Student Vestry and Service Council, explained Head Chaplain Betsy Gonzalez.

“The cranes were made for a variety of reasons by their makers, students and adults from all over campus,” Gonzalez said. “Some of them were made to express a desire for more peace in the world, the traditional interpretation of origami cranes.”

“Some students made them while thinking about different challenges facing our world like hunger, lack of housing, and care for our oceans. We color-coded some of those concerns with different paper. Still others made them to celebrate the community we are. They made them in dorm common rooms, around class tables, in the library, in Stewart, and the dining hall. All the beautiful colors and patterns are a symbol of the great strength and diversity of this community.”

Sol Ahn, a junior and one of several students whose support of the project was especially acknowledged by Gonzalez, appreciated how the cranes affected the community on several levels at once.

“The paper crane project was not only a great way to raise awareness about different global issues, but also a perfect opportunity for me to interact with other members of our community,” Ahn said. “I shared many great conversations with Evans (Dorm) students and faculty! I also learned how to fold mini paper cranes, mini-mini paper cranes, paper cranes made out of gum wrappers, and I even made one blindfolded!”
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