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Debra Disman

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TRANSITION II

June 20, 2018 By Debra Disman

TRANSITION II

Transition, convergence, a sea change, a shift…whenever there is change, seismic or not, the axis of our lives seems to move, and maybe it does.

If we think about an axis….we can see how monumental it is when it changes, when changes causes it to move literally or figuratively. Causing us to change, or at least, compelling us to adapt.

ax·is

noun

  1. 1.
    an imaginary line about which a body rotates.
    “the earth revolves on its axis once every 24 hours”
  2. 2.

    MATHEMATICS

    a fixed reference line for the measurement of coordinates.

“the earth revolves on its axis once every 24 hours” gives us a sense of this.  When we think of change this way, even desirable change, even the change we seek, we can see how disorientating it can be. How disorientating it IS.

Thinking back to my last post, I see how I am trying to grapple with my own transition, moving away from forms that have been a mainstay for many years…past work,  site, blog, digital and professional identity, into something something that contains it all.

After nearly seven years in Los Angeles developing new work,

I currently work in the form of the book, in forms inspired by the book, and in new sculptural media of my own devising. Although the work remains tethered to loose definitions of the book as structure, it is moving progressively into other sculptural and conceptual realms where labor, repetition and a passion for the haptic become powerful motivators and themes….

I finally sat down, and updated all my social media platforms.  To change a “page” on Facebook is very complicated, so the moniker “ArtiFactory Studio” remains there… but the information, the essence, is finally updated, as well as on Linked In, Pinterest, and more. It was a relief, and kind of exhilarating to get it done. It was time.

It is interesting to think how we are not only constantly being “profiled”, we profile ourselves. We are willing participants in the continual construction of our identities.  I realized that though how we show up online is critical on one level, on another it isn’t at all…no-one…of the many many folks i interact with around work, ever questioned the disconnect between my social media profiles, and the streams which flowed from them..streams of information, of images, of posts designed to share what I encounter, what I think can be helpful, what I want others to see. It is a construct which should have truth at its center.

With any change, we bring everything with us, every experience, every moment, every breath.

Having worked in the realm of the built environment for many years I am fascinated by the parallels between books and buildings in terms of structure, meaning, utility, architecture and effect. Each creates public and private spaces where stories are “read” on many levels, often revealing more than their authors and makers ever intended. I try to create such places and spaces of inspiration, contemplation, realization and bafflement in my work and to instigate investigation, exploration and discovery in myself and others.

 

Filed Under: Work Tagged With: ArtiFactory Studio, Artissima - Blog of ArtiFactory Studio, Axis, Change, Debra Disman, DebraDisman.Com, Profile, Social Media, Transition

TRANSITION I

June 11, 2018 By Debra Disman

TRANSITION I

What a tangled web we weave…

Even when we don’t practice to deceive…

A ways back, I finally transitioned from my long-time blog, “Artissima – The Blog of ArtiFactory Studio, to my new blog at DebraDisman.com.

My last Artissima post announced this move, (for it is indeed a move…just as potent as a physical one), and I let go/discontinued/ceased to pay for my Custom Design on Artissima, knowing that I was moving on, forging ahead, going forward.

And I am…along with my work, my blog, my life. as we all (hopefully) are.  As we all (hopefully) do.
Putting in the requisite work, effort, perseverance and commitment.

Yet, a bit later, I suddenly wanted the Custom Design back, back on my “old” Artissima blog, enhancing, beautifying, communicating and transforming…it.

WordPress had changed their blog design structures and it wasn’t so easy. Somewhat bewildered…at my own emotions and attachments, as well as web protocols, I sought advice from my dear friend and designer, Dianna Jacobsen  of Jacobsen Design.

Dianna had designed both my sites, my Artissima blog, and all my support materials (“marketing collateral”).  She told me, of course, to let it go. Not necessarily to let the old site and blog go, they still live (and radiantly I must say…even after all this time) on the web… but to let go of holding onto the old Custom Design, and my attachment to making and keeping the site and blog (in my mind) absolutely perfect.

“The older sites don’t adapt that well to the current and constantly changing digital environment.” she said (I paraphrase). “Stop ruminating about it, and move on.” (I paraphrase, but you get the idea.)

I needed to hear that.

So much seemed to be changing, much of it changes I had initiated, instigated,  pixel by pixel, but some changes that I hadn’t, – that I definitely would NOT have chosen. All forming what feels like a massive transition, where everything in  the world seems to have gone off its axis, requiring fresh eyes, energy and attitude.

I know this is growth, but sometimes it is confusing, sometimes it is overwhelming, and sometimes it hurts.

But we keep moving along…moment by moment, one foot in from of the other.

“The Whole World is a Narrow Bridge. The Important Thing is Not To Fear.”

Thank you for helping the through the “narrows” this time Dianna!

 

Filed Under: New Work, Work Tagged With: Art Work, ArtiFactory Studio, Artissima - Blog of ArtiFactory Studio, Artist, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Change, DebraDisman.Com, Dianna Jacobsen, Jacobsen Design, Letting Go, Transition

Story Time

June 6, 2018 By Debra Disman

 

Story Time: BedTime Story I

I am repeating a bit in this post, lingering in my Studio Residency and show of work at Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean in Santa Monica.

I showed a work titled “BedTime Story I“, featuring, or shall I say employing tiny masks; faces of clay, made by my Mother, the ceramicist  Judy Disman.

My Mom had made these tiny faces of clay expressly for me to use in and on my artists’ books, even making tiny holes in them so they could be sewed  into and onto the book structures and become integral to them.

The faces were a natural for a piece about “bed”,  and made the book into a more literal narrative then I had originally intended. I work fairly abstractly, though still in a loose book format, and the addition of representational elements changed the feeling of the piece. It could then be “read” more literally.

The faces even became interactive, with two of them contemplating each other.

Others became sentinels, gazing benevolently out from their “beds”.

Far from creating an image of sleep, the faces express the experience of being wide awake, perhaps listening to, creating, or becoming a story. A bed time story.

The faces become the actors in the story, played out through the pages of the book. Each viewer will read the story in their own way, and reach their own conclusions about it.

We may wonder what the beings or characters expressed or indicated by the faces are thinking, and if they are having sleepless nights. Perhaps they are worried under their smiling visages. Perhaps they are presenting to us a mask, and there are dreams and roiling emotions, even nightmares, underneath.

Perhaps formal, textural,  decorative, haptic or totemic qualities of the work will prevail for some. In any event, BedTime Story I was a pleasure to make.

Again, Mom, thank you for the collaboration, and for creating these tiny pieces for me.
It was great to work with you. Sweet dreams.

 

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, New Work, Work Tagged With: Accordion Fold, Art Work, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Artists' oo, Book Form, Books made by Hand, Ceramic Faces, Ceramics, Clay, Clay Masks, Cloth, Collaboration, Fabric, Handmade Books, HEMP CORD, Judy Disman, Mask, Sewing, Stitiching, Textiles

NEW WORKS Show at 1450 Ocean

May 31, 2018 By Debra Disman

NEW WORKS Show at 1450 Ocean

April 14, 2018.

Textile artist Huong Nguyen and I shared our work with the Public at the Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean in Santa Monica.

It was a wonderful round-up of our Studio Residency activities which took place January through April, 2018.

This post is a “send-off” of sorts to the Residency, which had a profound impact upon me, my work, and Life. Thank you, 1450 Ocean….

A tour around the Studio, as we prepare for our Show.

The spaciousness of space…tables for materials, and visual reminders, inspirations and cues.


The “spinning book” moved around.


Beautiful light off the Ocean flooded the glassed-in Studio.


I finished, if there is such a thing, filling my “sketch” book here.


“Rapunzel“, Book board,  mulberry paper, linen thread, gold thread, untreated canvas; “Window Treatment“, Book board,  file folders, hemp cord, watercolor paper, mulberry paper, acrylic paint, waxes.


“The Fall“, Board, untreated canvas, hemp cord, watercolor paper, mulberry paper.


“Throes of the Body“, Book board, untreated canvas, hemp cord, watercolor paper, mulberry paper.


“In the Profusion“, Book board, untreated canvas, hemp cord, watercolor paper, mulberry paper.


“Burning Bush“, Board, thread, linen thread, dental floss, mulberry paper.


“BedTime Story I”, Book board, wood, fabric, hemp cord, watercolor paper, incorporating tiny ceramic “masks, made by my Mom, the ceramicist Judy Disman.
Mom, it was great to work with you.

Pathways to the next Thing.
We are Travelers.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, New Work, Teaching Artist, Work Tagged With: 1450 Ocean, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Artst in residence, EXHBITION, Huong Nguyen, Judy Disman, Residency Show, SANTA MONICA, Sculptural Books, Show, Studio Residency, The Camera Obscura Art lab at 1450 Ocean

enRICHment IV

May 19, 2018 By Debra Disman

enRICHment IV

Kindergartners have a blast making their own books in  Santa Monica’s CREST Enrichment program which provides a variety of after school classes in Santa Monica Public Schools.


Which is more adorable, the book, or the dimple?!


What will happen with “The Three Kittens”?


The smile is the winner, and this little maker is a wonderful writer and visual artist too!


Peruse, cut, paste…


Draw draw draw…one of our most immediate visual art forms…make your Mark!


Industrious and serious writers.


What shall I choose?


Combining the visual and the written…


Kindergartners learning to write, and spell. Impressive.


They create the pages, they fill the pages.


Working with accordion fold / concertina books.


Influencing each others work?!


“Folded Fan Book”: accordion fold spine, with covers and pages attached.


Layering texture, shape and color.


Robert helps us out. Thank you, Robert of the CREST Enrichment program Staff!


An elaborate fairy tale…involving a path, a house, and fairies.


Working side by side, two creative solitudes in community.


This maker has a fascination and love of Mythology…and the Greek gods.


Checking out each others’ work. And each other.


The magic of Washi Tape!


One of our student’s Dads, a fun-loving dentist, joined us for this class…and made his own book


Students thrive in a supportive environment filled with materials, laughter, learning, and patient adults.

We were so fortunate during this class to have both CREST Enrichment program Staff Diana and Michelle be with us, as well as our dentist Dad, and a CREST  staff trainee. The students really felt the support!

To. Be. Continued. It is the Story that never ends…Creative Expression.
Let’s keep starting the process young!

 

Filed Under: Artists' Books, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: "Make Your Own Books!", Accordion Books, ARTIST BOOKS, Bookmaking, Books made by Hand, Children Making Books, Children's Art Classes, City of Santa Monica, CREST Enrichment, CREST Enrichment Classes, Enrichment Classes, Flag Books, Folded Fan Books, Handmade Books, Santa Monica Public Schools, Single Signature Books, Washi Tape

enRICHment III

May 19, 2018 By Debra Disman

enRICHment III

First through fifth graders have a blast pinching, coiling, flattening, carving and incising clay in  Santa Monica’s CREST Enrichment program which provides a variety of after school classes in Santa Monica Public Schools.

In this class, we invited parents and siblings to join as, as students painted their clay projects from the past month. A wonderful time was held by all!


“Here’s Lookin’ at You, Kid…”….


Laying out the work…pinch pot, coil and slab techniques.


Getting messy and loving it!


Careful work done by all three.


Painting mask faces.


Primary colors red, blue and yellow are laid out on one plate/palette, while new and inventive colors are mixed on another.


Little brother gets into the act too!


Sad? Mad? Bad? All three?


Sharing a palette.

A rich and colorFULL way to wind down our class, and wind up for summer.
The creative juices are flowing, and ready to take on more challenges.

Filed Under: Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: Acrylic paints, Ceramics, Children's Art Classes, City of Santa Monica, Clay, Coil Technique, CREST Enrichment, CREST Enrichment Classes, Enrichment Classes, FAMILY ARTMAKING, Hand Building with Clay, Painting Ceramics, Pinch pot Technique, Santa Monica Public Schools, Slab technique

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