Que Tran
Vietnamese paper cutting and folding artist
Seattle, WA
Que Tran is an artist, social worker, and community volunteer who lives in
Seattle. Tran uses her knowledge of Vietnamese culture and traditional arts to
assist youth, the elderly, new immigrants, and other individuals and groups.
Tran does this by offering lessons and demonstrations on paper arts (much like
origami), food carving, and floristry--her work in these forms marked by an
ability to produce deft, intricate folds, cuts, and arrangements with paper,
fruit, and flowers. Paper folding as an art form originated in China shortly
after paper was invented there in the 6th century. It spread to Japan, Vietnam,
and most other neighboring Asian countries.
Through learning these practices from Que, individuals are able to participate in arts
that help them both learn about and appreciate Vietnamese culture. In the Seattle-area,
Tran has volunteered with the Foster Grandparent Program, the Intergenerational Innovations
Program (for Seattle Public Schools), and the Refugee Women’s Alliance. She holds several
degrees and certifications in social work and the arts, including a degree in Floristry
and Landscape Design
In 2006 Tran received a Folk Arts Apprenticeship grant and worked with Ngan Thi My Ta and
Amy Duong. Together they produced folded crafts in Tran’s style, often themed around such
holidays as the Lunar New Year. They displayed their works and organized a demonstration
on paper folding techniques and food carving at the Woodall Studio in Seattle. One notable
product of this apprenticeship is the flying dragon Duong created with over two thousand
pieces of folded paper.
As the recipient of a 2008 Apprenticeship award, Tran is teaching apprentice Huong Do Thanh
food carving, paper folding, and other paper crafts. Tran first met her apprentice through
Helping Link, a non-profit organization that provides resources for Vietnamese-Americans
to help them integrate into American society while maintaining and celebrating their
Vietnamese heritage. Tran and Thanh will show their work and demonstrate paper folding
techniques at Helping Link’s display at the Seattle Center for the Lunar New Year Festival
in 2009.