Debra Disman

Artist

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Blog

Getting Ready for the Holidays at the Canoga Branch Library!

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Book arts are alive and well at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

I am thrilled to continue my artist residency there, working with the community, teaching bookmaking workshops (or leading “programs” in library parlance!)

The series, entitled “We Write the Book”, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will offer 11 hands-on bookmaking workshops and a culmination event to the community free of charge, with all materials included!

On November 18th community participants gathered to create a recipe book for the holidays and beyond. They learned how to sew a single signature (gathering of folded pages) together using the three hole  pamphlet stitch, then had the option of adding envelopes to hold treasured recipes! Decorative papers, fabric trims, stickers, markers, postcards and more were also available to use as embellishment and development of their book works.

Participants across generations created beautiful and fun books, with encouragement to keep working on them over time, and adding more recipes!

 

 

“I Can’t I Won’t I Will I Do”, Revisited

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Gene Ogami photographs

K no W Safe Place

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“K no W  Safe Place”
2023, 60 x 48 x 48″, canvas, netting, hemp cord, nylon cord, cotton cord, lace, ribbon, acrylic paint,  pH neutral adhesive, wooden dowel
and elbow grease, commitment, stick to it ness, imagination, vision, strength and love


K no W Safe Place

By


“K no W  Safe Place”
2023, 60 x 48 x 48″, canvas, netting, hemp cord, nylon cord, cotton cord, lace, ribbon, acrylic paint,  pH neutral adhesive, wooden dowel
and elbow grease, commitment, stick to it ness, imagination, vision, strength and love 

Halloween Tunnel Bookmaking at the Canoga Park Branch Library

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Book arts are alive and well at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

I am thrilled to continue my artist residency there, working with the community, teaching all manner of how-to bookmaking workshops, or “programs” in library parlance!

The series, entitled “We Write the Book”, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will offer 11 hands-on bookmaking workshops and a culmination event to the community free of charge, with all materials included!

Participants from children to teens to families to seniors learned how to create the three-dimensional Tunnel Book structure, creating their own Halloween scenes and more, combining theater, books, stories and celebration into their movable dramas!

 

Frida Kahlo Inspires Self-Portraits!

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Through my “Making Art Inspired By Great Artists “CREST” after school art class first through third graders learned about Great Artist Frida Kahlo, and her self-portraits, then a step-by-step methodology of how to draw a face.

Finally they added color, and fanciful frames around their creations, using markers and jewel stickers, just as the Frida Kahlo portrait below was framed by flowers painted on the glass which protects it, by Mexican craftspeople.