Debra Disman

Artist

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Debra Disman

Making Art Inspired By Great Artists: “Channeling” Louise Nevelson

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It was great fun to work with my girrrrlll power (my moniker) CREST Santa Monica Malibu School District after school programming students for our last meeting of our “Making Art Inspired By Great Artists” class, inspired by extraordinary artist Louise Nevelson.

The girrrllls (from grades 1-5!) used a variety of scrap and other wood object and pieces to create their own sculptural constructions using wood glue. They became designers, planners, builders, engineer and of course, artists and sculptors. Very inspiring!

 

Surface Design Association Instagram “Take-over”!

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The weekend of November 29-December 1 I had the pleasure, the honor and the fun of “taking over” (collaborating with) the Instagram account of the beloved  Surface Design Association or “SDA”, as it is commonly known.

It was so much fun, rewarding and delightful to get responses from and connections to many artists and makers I was not yet aware of, and peruse their beautiful and innovative work.

Thank you SDA, for this lovely opportunity, and for All you do for All of us.

Here are some of my posts (sans videos):
(You can see the whole collaboration, as well as continually added works on the SDA Instagram as well as my own)

Hello and a happy holiday weekend to All. I have the privilege of collaborating with the @surface_design this weekend, an organization I am thrilled to be a part of. SDA offers community, connection, education and wonderful opportunities. I have had the pleasure of participating in several SDA exhibitions, and I am honored to be in the company of other SDA artist members showing around the country! Thank you SDA, for all you do for all of us.

“LA Foret I, II and III” Adding complexity with each piece, as a stand alone, and components of a whole. They are made from hundreds of pieces of cord, glued to a raw canvas surface, painted on the reverse, and hanging at a slight remove from the wall.


(a different image of this piece is on Instagram)
“KnoW Safe Place”, 2023, 60 x 48 x 48″, canvas, hemp/nylon/cotton cord, lace, netting, lace, ribbon, acrylic paint, wood, archival adhesive.  Is there no safe place?  Do we ever know safe space?

“The Body Politic: Like White on White”, 2024, 9x16x7
book board, hemp, canvas, hemp/assorted cord, trim, acrylic paint, archival pva
Three dimensions reaching into three dimensions.


A treasured part of my practice is sharing the wealth as a teaching artist across LA County. I teach bookmaking and more in libraries, schools, museums and other venues. I value these collaborations with others such as librarians, whose expertise I respect and learn from! Thank you to the @culture_la and others for the opportunities you afford teaching artists in all disciplines.

Studio shot from the back by André Smits 
@artistintheworld713


Girrrrl powerFUL students from my “Making Art Inspired By Great Artists” class…creating their own textile hangings inspired by Faith Ringgold‘s extraordinary Story Quilts. Age range 1-5th grade, quite a range, and so talented.


It has been an honor to collaborate with the @surface_design over the past three days, and thank you, SDA for inviting me to do so. I leave you with “The Body Politic: Black and Gold“, 2024, 8.5 x 23 x 7”, made of book board, canvas, cord, netting, lace, trim, metallic leaf and beads. A book-inspired object that references the body as well as adornment and asks is what is precious; which can be presented in multiple states of open and closed; hints and glints at secrets, yet contains nothing on its pages except that which we project. Wishing all a healthy and peaceful holiday and strength for the New Year.

MAS Attack at the Torrance Art Museum!

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 Show Up, Share Art, Stand Together

MAS Attack Returns to TAM Dec 13th!

MAS Attack Returns to the Torrance Art Museum (TAM) – Friday, December 13th, 6-9pm
Calling all artists in SoCal—join us for a pop-up exhibition of solidarity!

After a challenging and divisive period, many artists are uncertain about the future. But the future starts now—and we are stronger together. Join us for the return of the Mutual Appreciation Society event—MAS Attack! This one-night-only exhibition invites all artists to share work that reflects these turbulent times, whether political, emotional, or personal. Art that speaks to where we are, and where we are headed. This is an opportunity to show that community counts, and that we are not alone.

How to Participate
No registration or application is required! Artists are invited to drop off their work at TAM from Tuesday, December 10th to Friday, December 13th, 10am-4pm. The opening reception will be Friday, December 13th, 6-9pm. At 9pm, artists can take their work home with them.

What’s at stake?
With recent tensions and the aftermath of a divisive election, many artists are wondering what comes next. We need to reinforce our sense of community—so we can replace grief, anger, and anxiety with hope, resilience, and strength. MAS Attack is about showing up, sharing art, and reminding each other that we are in this together. We invite all forms of art, all styles, and all voices. Your voice matters.

This is just the beginning. Small steps, but important ones. Let’s come together, renew our bonds, and support each other. Join us on Friday, December 13th—and be part of the future.

Spread the word!

Evidence of Joy to be found….

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“EVIDENCE OF JOY” was a group exhibition curated by April Parviz, who says:

“…When I look at the current world of art, I feel like I see a lot of evidence of many inspiring things, but not always so much joy.  I know in my own art practice, I am often fueled by loud palpable emotions like pain and confusion. Perhaps if I begin practicing using joy as fuel, I will begin to do it more habitually. Perhaps if we practice seeing joy more we can become habitual joy detectives. 

Evidence of Joy Dovetail Reception | 8.6.24 |

by Mary Oliver, 2017
“If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,

don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty

of lives and whole towns destroyed or about

to be. We are not wise, and not very often

kind. And much can never be redeemed.

Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this

is its way of fighting back, that sometimes

something happens better than all the riches

or power in the world. It could be anything,

but very likely you notice it in the instant

when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the

case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid

of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.”

SEE THE SHOW PAGE!

SEE THE SHOW VIDEO!

VIEW THE CATALOGUE Below….

Hopes and Fears and…

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From 2020 to the present moment.

I HOPE this is not forever, I FEAR it might be…but I HOPE not.
HOPE springs eternal, FEAR springs infernal.




Hopes and Fears and…, 2020, 24.5 x 16.25″, textile samples, linen thread

when FACING DARKNESS

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Face it, if at all possible, look “it” square in the proverbial eye/I, and take your reckoning. Be prepared, be intelligent, be on the ready. 

Facing Darkness, 2020, 19 x 18 x .5″, canvas, acrylic paint, lace, zipper

Yet,

Facing Darkness, (detail), 2020, 19 x 18 x .5″, canvas, acrylic paint, lace, zipper

Leave an opening, don’t zip yourself away. Stay open and fluid. And. Be prepared, be intelligent, be on the ready. Be open to creating silver linings.