“Escape From Bento” (2008) by Brian Chan (shrimp, mackeral), June Sakamoto (sushi, makizushi), Linda Mihara (wasabi, ginger) and Bernie Peyton (bento box). Photo by J.K. Yamamoto

“Transforming Kami: The Art of Origami” opened Sept. 6 at the National Japanese American Historical Society’s gallery in San Francisco’s Japantown.

The title refers to the root words of "origami" — "oru," to fold, and "kami," paper.

The exhibit features works by 15 noted origami artists, 12 from the U.S. and three from Japan. They are divided into four categories, Realism, Fantasy, Modular and Sculptural.

Made from a single sheet of paper, some models are achieved with as little as a dozen folds; the more complex models have hundreds and can sometimes take days to complete. It is a cardinal rule of origami not to cut or glue the paper.

One of the artists is Dr. Robert Lang, a laser physicist who has bridged origami with math and science. He and Makoto Yamaguchi of Japan are at the forefront of the movement to present origami as a true art form.

Yamaguchi is the author of numerous origami books and the founder of Origami House in Japan.

Also contributing to the exhibit are members of Pacific Rim Origami, a newly formed group of professional origami artists and teachers.

The exhibit is curated by Linda Tomoko Mihara, who works with her sister, Vicky Mihara Avery, to carry on the work of their grandparents, Tokinobu and Hideko Mihara, who imported origami paper and wrote books on origami in English as the owners and operators of the Oriental Culture Book Company (1763-65 Sutter St.) in the 1960s.

While pursuing their artistic endeavors, the sisters help their parents, Nob and Shiz Mihara, run the Paper Tree stationery store in Japantown's Buchanan Mall.

The exhibit is also a tribute to the late Akira Yoshizawa, who made major contributions to the development of origami in the 1950s with his techniques, designs and presentations. He established new three-dimensional standards,and along with American Sam Randlett, created origami design symbols still used today. Yoshizawa, who died in 2005, is regarded as the "grand master" of origami.

The exhibit will be on view until Dec. 31 at 1684 Post St. Admission is free. Hours are 12 to 5 p.m. weekdays and the first Saturday of the month. Info: (415) 921-5007 or njahs@njahs.org.

Upcoming events in conjunction with the exhibit include a peace crane ornament workshop on Sunday, Oct. 4, from 1 to 5 p.m.; an origami workshop on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 3 to 4 p.m.; a panel discussion by origami artists on Sunday, Nov. 2, from 2 to 5 p.m.; and a Mayor's Tree of Hope crane workshop on Sunday, Nov. 8, from 3 to 4 p.m.

A second exhibit will open on Nov. 1 at the main branch of the San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin St., and run until Dec. 31. For more information, visit www.sfpl.org.