Medium: Collage of invented origami using Japanese washi papers by artists of Michigan and Shiga, who met and married in Omihachiman, Grand Rapids’ first sister city.

Exhibit Location: Omihachiman Meeting Room, J.W. Marriott Hotel, Grand Rapids, Michigan, a hotel that honors the sister cities of Grand Rapids. This luxury hotel in the city of Grand Rapids opened in September 2007. www.ilovethejw.com

Description: Origami landscape view of Hachiman Bori, a canal in the center of the historic castle neighborhoods of Omihachiman, Shiga, Japan.

History: "Hachiman bori" was the merchants’ route to Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake. After Japan was unified in about 1600, Omihachiman’s merchants became some of the strongest businesses in Japan. The Hachiman bori canal led to Lake Biwa -- transport by boat was much faster than over mountains to reach the new capital of Tokyo 300 miles north or the old capital Kyoto 30 miles south. The canal is located in the old castle town part of Omihachiman at the base of Omihachiman mountain. The canal leads to Lake Nishinoko (1 mile) and Lake Biwa (2 miles).