Debra Disman

Artist

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Artist in Residence

“Tunneling through” at the Granada Hills Branch Library!

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It has been exciting to lead programs at the Granada Hills Branch Library of the LAPL, as part of  my Artist in Residency there:  “We Write the Book“, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, participants created multi-dimensional “Tunnel Books“, theatre-like structures comprised of a backdrop attached to an accordion-folded “spine” on either side.

Makers then added their own “cross-pieces” , cutting out strips in the shapes of mountains and more, and attaching them to the spines so that they traversed the width of the book, creating a place to add figures and other images to create their unfolding story, tableau or diorama.

As usual, attendees wowed with their use of color, shape and materials, imagination and creativity!


It is a materials world.


Families work together.
Attention to detail.


Making is an active sport.


Careful cutting.


Focus.


Sketching out the concept.


Use of feathers animate the image.


Majestic purple…


Showing off the completed book!


Creating a beautiful place to be.


Was this maker hungary? He created an ice-cream shop…


Fun use of materials.


Brilliant colors, black framing and carefully chosen use of select materials make this piece a stunner.

If you are in the area, join us for a  Winter Community Celebration at the Granada Hills Branch Library on December 19th from 1:30 – 5PM.

There will be “Envelope Bookmaking”, refreshments, sharing of works, and lots of fun!

 

“We the Artists” at 18th Street Arts Center!

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If you are in the Los Angeles Area, please join 18th Street Arts Center from 7-10PM November 10th for a special event:

“We the Artists” celebrates the 30th birthday of the largest artist residency program in Southern California!

I am thrilled to have recently become a local artist in residence, and will be opening my studio to the along with others from 7-8AM during the event.

18th Street Arts Center: “Where Art Happens
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2018-2019, 18th Street Arts Center is one of the top 20 artist residency programs in the US, and the largest in Southern California. Conceived as a radical think tank in the shape of an artist community, 18th Street supports artists from around the globe to imagine, research, and develop significant, meaningful new artworks and share them with the public to foster radical imagination, empathy, and positive social change.”

“WE THE ARTISTS: 18th Street’s 30th Anniversary Celebration!
November 10, 2018 | 7-10 PM

Santa Monica, CA – 18th Street Arts Center celebrates 30 years as Southern California’s leading artist residency program with a live performance art event and free public birthday party on November 10, 2018 from 7-10pm. The event is co-hosted by 18th Street’s founding ‘compadres’ La Pocha Nostra and Highways Performance Space. The evening spectacular features new live art works by 18th Street artists Kenyatta AC Hinkle, Asher Hartman, Marcus Kuiland-Nazario, Amitis Motevalli, and site-specific installations by Kate Johnson, Daniel Canogar, Po-Yen Wang, and more! Enjoy live performances, video installations, exhibitions, music, artist’s studios, LA’s gourmet food trucks, and craft beer. ” 

RSVP here for a free ticket.
18th Street Arts Center
1639 18th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404 United States

Hope to See YOU there!

 

Latinx Heritage Celebrated

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In our recent program at the Granada Hills Branch Library of the LAPL,   participants created accordion fold (also known as “concertina”…continuing with the musical instrument metaphor-) books.

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, they added images of Latinx art and architecture, including murals, street art, works shown in museums, and storefronts.

Participants spanned young children to seniors, with everyone becoming immediately absorbed in creating their books, and developing them with varied fascinating and colorful images of works created by an integral population of Los Angeles past, present and future.

The Virgin of Guadalupe was an inspiration.

Mother and son work together.

Participants transformed images by adding to and subtracting from them, and putting them together in new ways.

The focus of all ages…

Makers often choose to work with colors that reflect the colors they are wearing!

Pink, never gets old.

This workshop was part of my Artist in Residency project: “We Write the Book“, supported by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles.  Gratitudes!

 

National Hispanic Heritage Month: A Bookish Celebration

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In our recent program at the Granada Hills Branch Library of the LAPL,  23 participants created “folded fan” books, comprised of an accordion spine, front and back covers, and fan pages.  In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, they added their own “Picado Papel“, decoratively cut and punched papers, which added a special touch to their creations.

Families turned out, and parents worked closely with children to achieve their artistic visions! Especially heartwarming was the number of Dads who devoted themselves to supporting their sons and daughters through the process, while creating beautiful works themselves. And let’s not forget the Moms! It is wonderful to see adults give themselves over to the creative process. Parents, and all people, so need this time.

This workshop was part of my artist residency project: “We Write the Book“, supported by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles.  Gratitudes!

 


Children’s Librarian extraordinaire, Alice Schock, engages with a young patron, artist and participant.


Like Mother, like Daughter…


The work of our hands…and creative ways of using shaped hole punchers to create Picado Papel!


Sisters and friends work together.


This young teen, age 13, took off with a Halloween theme.


Through careful work, discerning choices, and elegant handicraft, she designed a book that we hope she will keep forever!


This young maker transformed images of a noted Los Angeles mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe, and used the beautiful colors as a surface to create a repeated design with a butterfly-shaped hole puncher.


Piper and her Dad attended an earlier workshop, and were back again creating happily together.


Father and daughter work closely on her book. her Mom said that though she herself loves scrapbooking, she could never get Dad to do it. Now, maybe he might, after seeing how much fun cutting, pasting and arranging are!


Here is Mom at work on her own masterpiece, along with older daughter.


Sebastian and his Dad work side by side. spending precious time together.


Yellow blossoms drift across a luminous pink ground,  floating in a world of warm colors. Washi tape is used to good effect as a framing device on the covers.

 


Benny and Mom have fun. Who says one has to sit on chairs?


These two friends had a blast, and worked with very different color schemes in their projects.


This is Greer’s second workshop. She loves to work with her hands, and even contributed some extra  Washi tape  to the cause!


Our scrapbooking  Mom works on a mini-masterpiece. What patience it takes to punch out all those butterflies, then arrange and glue them to the cover!

But how worth is it was…here is her magnum opus…a treat for the eyes, heart and soul.

Thank You All.

 

“Reading Takes You Anywhere!”(2)

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Here is the inaugural workshop at the Granada Hills Branch Library of the LAPL, kicking off my artist residency there:  “We Write the Book“, supported by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles.

For the Summer Reading Theme:  “Reading Takes You Anywhere!”  participants created a Travel Journal…an accordion book with pockets and sewn in pages.

Meet the bookmakers!


Three generations  of women and girls, making books.


What a message…she came up with this title on her own.


Our lovely helpers Emily and Erica, with two of our younger makers.


Sharing their embellishment!


Three generations of females again…with Grandma and Granddaughter participating in the workshop.


I see a theme here…crossed ribbons marks the spot…


Two beautiful families, one, about to take off for Australia.
A Travel Journal will come in handy…

“Reading Takes You Anywhere!”(1)

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Inaugural workshop at the Granada Hills Branch Library of the LAPL, kicking off my artist residency there:  “We Write the Book“, supported by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles.

For the Summer Reading Theme:  “Reading Takes You Anywhere!”  participants created a Travel Journal…an accordion book with pockets and sewn in pages.

Here are some of the results.
TBC in the next post…“Reading Takes You Anywhere! (2)”.


Washi love.


Working on the covers.


Stuck on stickers!


“Mom’s Travel Journal”…an elegant use of decorative butterflies, maps, birds and color. This Mom is headed soon to Australia…and hopefully, her Travel Journal will come in handy.
Bon voyage!

Up next….the book makers behind (or in front of) the books.

Stay tuned!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elegance…