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CLIP, FOLD & USE YOUROWN ERIC JOSELYNFORTUNE-TELLERPAPER TOYPart of the material culture of childhood, these foldedpaper toys have been used as fortune-telling devicesand for other playful purposes for at least 50 years.They are widely reported, and have been described inmany variations and by many names, including “fortune-tellers,”“salt cellars,” “film star oracles,” “wigglewaggles”and “cootie catchers.”* Contemporary artistshave made use of the form; mathematicians use themto teach basic principles. Eric Joselyn made this one fora “free-trade parade” that was part of the PhiladelphiaFringe Festival in September 2006. Suited “capitalists”passed out the fortune-tellers to spectators: a bit of funto open crowds to the critique.How to make it:x Cut the folded paper off at the -------.x Fold the “Dupont” corner over to meet the “GulfWar Oil” corner, and uncrease.x Fold “Enron” corner to meet “Dupont” anduncrease.x Flip the toy over.x Fold all four corners over so that they meet in themiddle. (Four full squares and eight triangles willbe showing).x Turn it over. You should be looking at 16 triangleswith “fortunes.”x Fold each of the corners in to the middle. Youshould see 8 triangles: “Dead trees,” “Toxins,”“My S.U.V.”, etc.x Crease the square in quarters, through the middleof each flap. (If you flip it over, you will see the4 squares. )x Back on the side with the 8 triangles, bringthe outside points together in the middle.x Pull out the square flaps: “Dupont,”“Gulf War,” etc.x Place thumb and index finger in each flap tomanipulate.* For examples, see Iona and Peter Opie, The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren (1959), Maryand Herbert Knapp, One Potato, Two Potato (1976), and Simon Bronner, American Children’sFolklore (1988)16 WIP 2006-2007 Winter