Crafting Peace and Hope Through Paper Cranes

On Saturday, April 13th, Bellaire High School’s Art Car Club, under the guidance of teacher sponsor Ms. Sandra Wallace and Ms. Rebecca Bass, participated in the Orange Show’s Houston Art Car Parade with a giant paper crane floating over the waves.

The design was chosen to represent the story of Sadako Sasaki and the Thousand Paper Cranes. According to the legend, if a sick person folds a thousand paper cranes, they will recover. Following the bombing of Hiroshima, from which she developed leukemia, Sasaki folded cranes daily, hoping to heal. Though she passed away at age 12, her story and its significance endure.

Back view of the car. (Ashley Park)

Bellaire High School’s Art Car Club Co-President Cathryn Vera explains the car's significance: “We really wanted to create something meaningful. The story of a thousand paper cranes is one I’ve known since elementary school, and we all felt its message was worth advocating for,” she says. “The concept was also exciting because making paper cranes is something anyone can participate in, allowing us to collaborate with many who couldn’t attend after-school meetings.”

The car’s design reflects this sentiment, with the iconic paper crane as the focal point. Poems, messages, and quotes from or about Sasaki were written on it, including her message on the 1,400 paper cranes she folded: “I will write peace on your wings, and you will fly all over the world.”

Art Car Club during the parade. (Rahul Nanjundan)

Smaller orange paper cranes and a large orange ribbon folded by the students decorated the vehicle, orange representing leukemia awareness. The ocean waves painted on the lower half of the car serve as a backdrop, symbolizing the journey and hopes carried by the cranes across the world.

This was the Art Car Club’s first year at Bellaire High School, and the preparation process was an incredible learning experience for all involved. The club hosted several meetings to plan the design, fold cranes, and decorate the car. These sessions fostered a sense of unity and teamwork across the group, helping them not only overcome technical problems but also have fun and share stories. The collaborative effort not only created a beautiful and meaningful car but also strengthened the bonds between club members. 

Though they did not receive an award at the show, the members remain extremely proud of their meaningful creation, with club member Rory Pilcher simply stating, “Our car is gonna be even cooler next year.”