Gay Merril Gross (1953 – 2025) gave me a very warm welcome at my first origami convention in 1994. Her kindness and enthusiasm made me feel immediately at home in the origami community, and I will always treasure that memory.
Gay was generous in teaching and sharing her charming, whimsical models. Her creativity was boundless, and her designs captured technical skill and her playful and lyrical spirit. I have several of her books in my collection, each a testament to her artistic vision and her gift for making origami accessible to folders of all levels.
Over the years, I’ve been pleased to present video tutorials for some of Gay’s delightful models here on Origami Spirit. Sharing her models has brought us all much joy, and I hope her work inspires you as much as it has inspired me.
“Cute Origami Cat” (It cleverly doubles as a box) showcased her talent for creating functional yet charming designs.
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“Spiral Spring,” an ingenious and playful slinky-type model that captured her ability to create dynamic, action origami. models.
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“Quick Origami Rose” an elegant and easy model accompanied by a variation and matching leaf demonstrated her gift for flower models with a touch of whimsy.
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I can still picture Gay deep in thought, studying folds or crease patterns with intense concentration, her mind working through the folding possibilities. She inspired me to make connections between seemingly unrelated concepts, then combine elements from different models to create something new. This approach to creative synthesis shaped my own origami journey and opened up many new avenues of artistic exploration.
Gay was not only a talented origami designer but also a remarkable teacher. She had that special ability to break down the folding process into manageable steps, always encouraging her students with patience.
The origami world has lost a bright light, but Gay’s legacy lives on through her books, her models, and in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to learn from her. Her paper creations will continue to bring wonder and delight to people around the world.
The origami community can always be grateful for Gay’s inspiring creativity and for the way she enriched the art form we love so dearly.
BOOKS BY GAY MERRILL GROSS *
Minigami: Mini Origami Projects for Cards, Gifts and Decorations
Origami: The Art of Paper Folding
Paper Creations: Easy-To-Make Paperfolding Projects
Tear-i-gami: Ornagami
Zoogami-Set
The Art of Napkin Folding (Hardcover)
*Amazon Affiliate
