Debra Disman

Artist

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Debra Disman

California OPEN 2020

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I was thrilled to be a part of the 2020 California Open Exhibition at TAG Gallery in LA.

“I like the ‘openness’ of the California Open concept,” said juror Kate Mothes, “so in my selections I tried to maintain a diversity of ideas and themes, and to the best of ability with the information at hand, include artists of diverse backgrounds. With this in mind, I also considered the craftsmanship of each work, and included a range of media types. It was a pleasure to review all of the submissions to this year’s open call, and I thank TAG Gallery for inviting me to participate as juror this year!”

I was in good company, and documented a few of my favorite pieces…it takes all kinds…of art.
Enjoy.

Photograph

Sculpture

Mixed Media Relief

Documentary Photography

Altered Book

Collage

Like I said…it takes all kinds.
It takes, All Of Us.
Cheers.

CRAFTING HISTORIES online

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It has been an honor to work with Craft Contemporary to lead:

CRAFTING HISTORIES
Bookmaking Online Workshop 

“The Art of the Book: Crafting Our Stories By Hand is an online workshop series specifically designed by Craft Contemporary and artist Debra Disman for adults over the age of 55. This program is made possible by funding from Aroha Philanthropies and is part of a nationwide campaign to bring thoughtful and specialized programs to a valuable population that is often undeserved by arts institutions.

Workshop participants were introduced to ideas of storytelling through materials and the handmade. They were encouraged to tell their own stories using paper and everyday materials, while exploring what the term book means, why books are important, and how they have functioned through time and culture.”

See our extraordinary participants and their work here….and prepare to be amazed.

 

In TRANSITION

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I was thrilled to be part of the exhibition “TRANSITION“, presented by Tarfest 2020, produced by Launch LA, and juried by the wonderful Holly Jerger, curator for Craft Contemporary.

Tour the show with Founder/Executive Director of Launch LA James Panozzo here.


I showed “Torrent and Tangle: Keep your House in Order“,  2019, 10.5 x 25 x 18”, made of book board, hemp cord, ribbon, lace, mulberry paper, acrylic paint, and neutral PH adhesive.


The piece was created in a bottomless box format,


with two accordion folded joins, or back corners,


and two “front doors” hinged with cloth and surfaced with strips of ribbon, that can be opened,


or kept closed,


with any amount of the hanging internal strings kept in, or emerging, flowing or falling out of the structure,


depending on how the those designing the show wish it to appear.


Hemp cords knotted on one end were threaded through awl-punched holes on three sides,


after the inside surfaces were lined with lace,


tumbling down in a torrent into a tangled heap onto the surface where the piece is placed.


How will we get this all sorted out?

Nobody really knows, but this much is clear, we are in this together. Endemic of contemporary life, torrent and tangle is taken to the extreme by the current pandemic. We will get through this. We have to.

Staying OPEN

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It is an honor to be participating in the 2020 CALIFORNIA OPEN Exhibition at TAG Gallery.
You can visit the show live and in-person by appointment:
TAG Gallery 5458 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
310.829.9556 | [email protected] | 11am -5pm, Tue-Sat

TAG Gallery is thrilled to share the 15th Annual 2020 CALIFORNIA OPEN  Exhibition, featuring unique art pieces from 99 artists from around the United States.

Juror Kate Mothes , accomplished founder of Young Space @yngspc and Dovetail Magazine @dovetail.mag thoughtfully selected nearly 1000 works submitted from our national call for art to assemble what is a uniquely incredible show.

She says,

“Much has already been written about the unprecedented time we find ourselves in,” explains juror Kate Mothes. “As I reviewed the submissions for the California Open, I had a raised awareness of the circumstances and time period during which much of the work had been made.”

“I like the ‘openness’ of the California Open concept,” continues Mothes, “so in my selections I tried to maintain a diversity of ideas and themes, and to the best of ability with the information at hand, include artists of diverse backgrounds. With this in mind, I also considered the craftsmanship of each work, and included a range of media types. It was a pleasure to review all of the submissions to this year’s open call, and I thank TAG Gallery for inviting me to participate as juror this year!”

View the 2020 California Open Exhibition  here!
ENJOY the Artist Chat:
Wednesday, September 23, 3pm – California Open 2020 Artist Chat via Zoom (sign up on Facebook required)

2020 CALIFORNIA OPEN PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

Troy Aiken, Norman Aragones, Sarah Arnold, Louis Balicki, Jenny Balisle, Michele Benzamin-Miki, Reiko Berg, Allegra Bick-Maurischat, Raydel Blanco, Alessia Bothorel, Nancy Byrnes, Julie Carcione Cavaz, Chung-Ping Cheng, Michael Chesler, Jonathan Crow, Laurie Curran, Jaren Dahlstrom, Debra Disman, Lee Dollison, Laurence Elias, Mims Ellis, Robert Esau, Mumtaz Essa, Astrid Francis, Rinaldo Frattolillo, Gail Glikmann, Aspen Golann, Leslie Goldenberg, Bart Goldman, Emily Gomez, Keri Haarhoff, Andy Hann, Debra Hintz, Gary Hong, Cathy Immordino, Federico Imperiale, Marta Jaremko, Joan Karp, Sassoon Kosian, Faina Kumpan, Esther Kwan, JJ L’Heureux, Julie La Rue, Bonnie Lambert, John Langdon, Michelene Laski, Tom Lasley, Nancy Goodman Lawrence, Nakyung Lee, Andrew Leventis, Roberta Levitow, Whitman Lindstrom, Janet Manalo, Don Manderson, Carmen Mardonez, Andrew Martin, Melissa McClellan, Janet Milhomme, Zachary Miller, Eliza Ann Mitchell, Joseph Moreno, Nelson Munares, Perola Navarro, Bryan Northup, Joe A. Oakes, Cara Park, James Parlin, Nora Pineda, Sherry Pollack Walker, Justin Prough, Manaz Raiszadeh, Michael Roy, Gigi Salij, David Shannon, Ashley Shellhause, Sam Shokati, Jen Solomon, Tianyi Sun, Emily Sunez, Pam Sutherland, Viviana Svidler, Ariel Swartley, Robin Tripaldi, Michael Usher, Paul Valadez, Crystal Vicars, Amy Vidra, Catherine Walker, Sheldon Walker, Emily Wallerstein, Eric Welch, Mira White, Debbie Wolf, Wendy Widell Wolff, Travis Worden, Miss Art World, Amy Wright, Shingo Yamazaki, Jim Zver

CALIFORNIA OPEN INFORMATION

Artists in TRANSITION

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The Tarfest 2020 Launch LA  TRANSITION exhibition was such a great experience to participate in, and one of the joys was to meet, view and celebrate many wonderful artists.

This post is my tribute to some of my favorites.

EXHIBITIONISTA: The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity

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I am honored to show two pieces in The Book As Art v.8: Infinity
exhibition happening:

August 28 through October 17 | virtual tour only
The Periodicals Gallery of the Decatur Library
215 Sycamore St., Decatur, Ga. 30030

The Book As Art v.8: Infinity is installed at the Decatur Branch of the DeKalb County Public Library, and virtual tours, artist talks, and more will be provided throughout its run. Check out the catalog, and remember, these works are available for purchase!

I am showing: “PRAIRIE“and “MAXIMUM SECURITY” below.

“Held in the hand, a book can be a source of stability in unsettled times. Tactile and olfactory, the black and white pages conjure emotions and images that endure longer than flickering light on small screens. From tablet to folio, papyrus to scroll, song to psalm—all are created as a concept that becomes thought, becomes word, becomes book, becomes sculpture. These objects, in an increasingly digital world, stubbornly survive. The objects in this exhibition will interpret the concept of the book and invite the viewer to look beyond the printed page to where ideas, words, and symbols are transformed and are transfigurative.

They are expressive, expansive and iconic. They have become form, and are infinite.

The Book as Art v.8: Infinity is the eighth edition of this critically acclaimed artists book exhibition established by the Decatur Arts Alliance in 2013. Entries hail from across the United States and around the world, and from emerging artists as well as recognized masters in the genre. The Book as Art is pleased to present these examples from the finest in the field.”

Watch the
The Book as Art v.8: Infinity Virtual Opening!

Live Zoom Events (FREE tickets via Eventbrite, links available soon)

Oct. 7: Artist Talk with Valerie Aranda and Clemente Orozco Farías
Oct. 14: Artist Talk with Stephanie Russ and Isabelle Fleurelien
Oct. 21: Artist Interview: Peggy Johnston
Oct. 28: Artist Showcase and Discussion: Nicole Polonsky, Christian Feneck, Chris Revelle, Debra Disman