Reveal of new art piece for The Atrium at St. Joseph Hospital,
"1000 Cranes for Nashua:" made for and by Nashua residents of all ages
and origami fun with Nashua International Sculpture Symposium

WHO:  Nashua International Sculpture Symposium, St. Joseph Hospital and YOU
WHAT:  Reveal of installation of 1,000 paper cranes made by Nashua area residents of all ages
WHERE: The Atrium at St. Joseph Hospital, 172 Kinsley Street, Nashua, N.H.
WHEN: Thursday, July 8, 2021, 6:30 p.m.

The 2021 Nashua International Sculpture Symposium may be over for now, with the striking and beautiful new pieces installed in a sculpture garden at 6 Church Street in Nashua, but the fun continues with the "1,000 Cranes for Nashua project," the start of a series of activities and events for people to get involved with all over the Nashua area throughout the year. More than 1,000 cranes were made, and artist and NISS board member Kate Pritchard of Nashua, who developed the project, has created an art piece which will display 1000 of the cranes, to be revealed in the spacious and airy atrium at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua. The cranes have been created since April and May for kids, adults and families.

According to Japanese legend, if someone folds 1,000 paper cranes, they will be granted a wish. According to Pritchard, the paper cranes project, the activity is based on a book titled 'Sadako Sasaki,' the story of a young girl injured by the atomic bombing at Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II; a children's peace monument located there is dedicated to her and children annually send their 1,000 paper cranes there to be hung in her honor.

"The cranes also represent good luck, good health and loyalty to one another, so it seemed a perfect way to bring connection and positivity to people," Pritchard said. The cranes are also seen as a sign of peace, often are given to people who are ill, as a wish for healing and recovery, too.

She originally made 150 kits for people to come pick up, containing materials for 10 cranes, and made larger kits for the Boys & Girls Club, PAL, and several senior living complexes around Nashua, among other organizations. Then they would return them, and there were prizes and raffles offered. They got back many more than the 1,000 planned.

Pritchard said, "I am so pleased how Nashua, and even other surrounding communities, responded so enthusiastically to the "1,000 Peace Cranes for Nashua " project! We are well over our 1,000 crane goal - last official count was at 1572, but more cranes still mysteriously find their way to the bench outside of the Picker Artist Studios every day. And although it was designed with children in mind, the adult participation was overwhelmingly positive. We have cranes of all sizes, colors, styles and skills. When stringing them together, you get a personal sense of the hands that folded them all, which makes them feel so distinctive individually, yet so powerfully united as a whole."

She added, "I can’t wait to see them all together on their big 10 ft. branch, in the atrium of St. Joseph Hospital. What started as a small, mindfully therapeutic activity, turned into an impressively uplifting art piece, created by hundreds of enthusiastic and diverse hands. I can’t think of a more positive way for a community to emerge from an isolating global pandemic than by making art together."