Artist Statement: Lulu: When I was little, I read the story “Sadako and the 1,000 Paper Cranes” which inspired me to learn how to fold a paper crane. Since then I’ve lost count of how many I’ve folded. I find myself creating the little origami birds at the randomest times without realizing what my hands are doing; in class, at concerts, in the car. No paper is safe from me. Everytime I finish folding a crane, I think of their symbolization of hope and healing, and it feels me with a warm feeling. In my eyes, the crane also shows how fragile, complex, and beautiful the world is. The countless folds of thin paper create something beautiful. My cranes will connect with the community if they are able to see what I see in each paper bird- the complexity and beauty of life filled with hope. Additionally, my cranes show a support of the LGBTQ+ community and acceptance of everyone because the birds are rainbow. I think my piano will inspire students to view the world a little differently, to notice the small delicate things all around us, to see how breathtaking the world around us is. I know that’s a lot to get from one crane, but that’s what I see in them, and I hope others can too.