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Debra Disman

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Halloween Tunnel Bookmaking at the Canoga Park Branch Library

November 2, 2023 By Debra Disman

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!

 

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, BOOKS, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: Accordion, Accordion Fold, Artist Residency, Book, Book as Art, Book Structures, BOOKBINDING, Bookmaking, Books made by Hand, Canoga Park Branch Library, Canoga Park Library, Community Artmaking, COMMUNITY BOOKMAKING, Culmination, DCA LA, DCA-funded artist residency, Diarama, drama, Handmade Books, Intergenerational Arts workshops, LAPL, Librarians, Los Angeles Public Library, Making Books Together, mixed media books, Organization, Self-expression, Story, The Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles, Theatre, Three-Dimensional, TUNNEL BOOK, Tunnel Books

Frida Kahlo Inspires Self-Portraits!

October 9, 2023 By Debra Disman

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.

Filed Under: ARTISTS, Student Work, Teaching Artist, Women Artists Tagged With: After School Art Classes, CREST, CREST Enrichment, Drawing, Drawing the face, Frida Kahlo, Grade School-aged children, Great Artists, How to draw a face, MAKING ART INSPIRED BY GREAT ARTISTS, SANTA MONICA, Santa Monica School System, Self-portraits

Work in Progress: Studio

October 6, 2023 By Debra Disman

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Filed Under: New Work, TEXTILE/FIBER, Work Tagged With: 18th Street Arts Center, Black, black on black on black on black, Book, Cloth, Fabric, Fiber, Installation, Layering, Monochrome, New Work, Sculpture, Studio, Textile, Work, Work in Progress

Sharing “Contemplating Boundaries” at the Korean Cultural Center

September 29, 2023 By Debra Disman

A LAUNCH LA OPEN CALL GROUP EXHIBITION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KOREAN CULTURAL CENTER, LOS ANGELES,

“CONTEMPLATING BOUNDARIES” was held

JULY 27th – AUGUST 18th, 2023

“Boundaries exist in all cultures-often as social constructs serving to regulate our actions, norms, taboos, and space. They may be codified laws, common societal traditions, or even self-imposed rules. 

“Contemplating Boundaries” brought together artists from across Southern California whose practices contemplate and reflect barriers, labels and limits- whatever their origin or purpose. These artists and their works- define our times, providing an authentic lens to view contemporary culture.

Please see a video of the exhibition!

JURORS

TeaYoun Kim-Kassor (Professor, Department Chair, Otis College of Art and Design)  TeaYoun Kim-Kassor (Phonetically, TaeYun: “Tea” as in “Taylor” & “Youn” as in “Sun”) is originally from South Korea and has a varied background in education; she received academic degrees in S. Korea, Japan, and the U.S.

As an artist, educator, and cultural ambassador, she has been developing her artistic path, teaching pedagogy, leadership, and management skills to embark on transnational education and emphasize the importance of understanding global perspectives.

She is currently a Professor and Department Chair of the Foundation Program at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, CA.

Mika Cho (Professor, ART/Director, Cal State LA Fine Arts Gallery) Dr. Mika Cho was appointed as Special Assistant to the President for Arts and the director of the Cal State LA Fine Arts Gallery in 2017. Prior to her appointment as the director of the Fine Arts Gallery she served as the chair of the Art Department. She is art educator, researcher, educational consultant, curator and visual artist, the last comprising numerous exhibitions at museums and galleries. Her research interests are in art-related and educational issues, which she shares through publications and extensive conference presentations nationally and internationally.

Filed Under: ARTISTS, BOOKS, Exhibitions, MEDIA, Presentations, TEXTILE/FIBER, Work Tagged With: CONTEMPLATING BOUNDARIES, Group Exhibition, Group Exhibitions, Juried Show, Korean Cultural Center, Launch LA, Mika Cho, Open Call, TeaYoun Kim-Kassor, Video of the show

Getting Organized with Bookmaking at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

August 20, 2023 By Debra Disman

We held our second  “We Write the Book” artist residency program at the Canoga Park Branch Library on August 19, 2023.

The series, 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

In the spirit of getting organized for the new academic year, I taught participants ranging from small children to seniors how to create an accordion-fold book with pockets, add covers, then sew in “signatures” (gatherings of folded pages), to make their books super organizing tools, with places to store notes, make notes, and take notes!

The series, 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 accordion fold book structure and add pockets, then develop their books with a variety of decorative and print materials to make them their own.  A good time was had by all, as those attending learned new skills, socialized and inspired each other with their book creations!
Even the Librarians got into the act!

Children’s Librarian Luz and teen volunteer Scott supported participants while creating their own books!


Scott cuts lengths of beautiful striped and glittering paper cord for participants to use in sewing their signatures into the folds of their accordion structures.


Library volunteer Carmen and participant Laura move through the process.


Stellar participant Gina helps fellow student.


We were joined by an energetic family of five, helmed by this intrepid Mom!


Playing with color, textures, design and form are the nuts and bolts of the process. Participants made creative decisions and learned about themselves in the process, while gaining skills in folding, cutting, sewing and gluing.

We hope to see everhone back next month, at 12:00 noon on Saturday September 23rd!

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, BOOKS, Presentations, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: Accordion, Accordion Book Structure, Accordion Fold, Accordion Fold Book, Accordion fold book with sewn signatures, Artist Residency, Artist Residency Culmination, Book, Book as Art, Book Structures, BOOKBINDING, Bookmaking, Books made by Hand, Books with Pockets, Canoga Park Branch Library, Canoga Park Library, Community Artmaking, COMMUNITY BOOKMAKING, Culmination, DCA LA, DCA-funded artist residency, Getting organized, Handmade Books, Intergenerational Arts workshops, LAPL, Librarians, Los Angeles Public Library, Making Books Together, mixed media books, Organization, Self-expression, Starting school year, Summer reading, The Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles

Making Flag Books at the Brand!

August 15, 2023 By Debra Disman

I was thrilled to lead a fun and fabulous flag book workshop at the Brand Library and Art Center in Glendale!

Supported by The Associates of Brand, the workshop was held in conjunction with Brand 51: Annual National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper, now on view in the Brand Library and Art Center galleries.

I am honored to be showing in this exhibition, and it provided an excellent context the workshop, in which participants learned how to make the versatile accordion folded spine and combine image and text in a way that allowed them to become author, artist, designer and writer in one fell swoop!

We dedicated the workshop to the creative efforts of all those facing challenges caused by the fires that raged on Maui.

A meaningful time was had by all.


Assembling the components, Covers, flag pages, and accordion spine (to be folded).


Using a wooden tool designed for ceramics to assist in folding.


Cutting up treasures to create more treasures!


Adding personal writing.


Writing in a personally created language and alphabet!


Adding maps.


Using origami paper, and origami methods!


Here’s to the black, white and brown!


Creatively employing the exhibition postcard as book covers.


A beautiful marriage of image, text, design, art and craft!
The message of this piece says it all….

May it be so.

Filed Under: ARTISTS, Artists' Books, BOOKS, Exhibitions, Presentations, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: Associates of Brand, Book, Book as Art, Book Structures, BOOKBINDING, Bookmaking, Books made by Hand, brand, Brand 51, Brand 51 Annual National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper, Brand Library and Art Center, Canoga Park Branch Library, Canoga Park Library, Community Artmaking, COMMUNITY BOOKMAKING, Creating travel journals, Culmination, DCA LA, DCA-funded artist residency, Flag Book, folded and glued book, folded book, Glendale, Glendale Arts and Culture, Handmade Book, Handmade Books, Intergenerational Arts workshops, LAPL, Librarians, Los Angeles Public Library, Making Books Together, mixed media books, Self-expression

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