Debra Disman

Artist

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Artists' Books

Friday Bookmakers Inspiration! We Stand (Sit?!) Together, Making Books! (7)

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I have been honored to work with a wonderful group of “older adults” at the Craft Contemporary Museum in Los Angeles, offering a series of workshops teaching bookmaking techniques, and providing a forum for creativity, imagination, sharing and story.

The remainder of our series, “Crafting Our Stories By Hand” has had to be postponed due covid19.

Therefore, I have started an email newsletter to keep our community going, offering tips, images and sharing the work these makers are doing at home while “sheltering in place”.

Sharing these newsletters as a blog post makes their contents available for any and all. It inspiring to see what these makers have done and are doing during these crazy times.

Dear Readers, Bookmakers, All,

I am happy to bring you images, tips, inspiration and learning for your bookmaking journey.

I hope you are all well, staying safe, and creating!
You might want to check out the “Crafting Our Stories By Hand” blog post below…it holds wonderful photos of you all taken during our workshops at the Museum. So photogenic you all are (as Yoda would say!)
 
Also, you can check out all of our weekly newsletters in blog version here:

https://debradisman.com/blog/

This week, we have Vicki sharing a circle book! Fun, whimsical, and what a great challenge to put to oneself!
She says, 

“Took a on-line class from book maker Kit Davey.  This circle book was made with double sided paper.  If you enjoy origami I think you would enjoy making this book.” (I added in the link if anyone wants to further explore artist Kit Davey.)

WOW!
 
Sandra created two glorious books, and she says,

“The first book is a simple blank book on cardboard. I watched an online tutorial from The Broad aimed at children — to create their own artwork in the manner of Mark Bradford. So that’s what I did for the covers. Just layered paper scraps, sanded them, then layered some more, and repeat. Just joined pages with copper wire rings.”(I added in the link if anyone wants to further explore artist Mark Bradford.)

My second book was supposed to be based on a winged book from the Alisa Golden book. I deconstructed an Ed Kienholz catalog and reconstructed it. The only difference between mine and the winged book is that I didn’t glue the connecting pages together — because I liked the triangular aspect. I made a little belly band out of an interior translucent page.(I added in the links if anyone wants to further explore artists Alisa Golden and  Ed Kienholz.)

Well that is it for this week dear Readers, Bookmakers, All,
If you are able, and so inclined, email us back to share something book-related, or anything of interest you wish.

Stay Safe, Stay Strong, Stay Well, Stay Sane
STAY CREATIVE!
And as Sandra says,
“Craft on!

Exhibitionista: “HeART of the Book”

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I have been honored to participate in The HeART of the Book, A national  book arts show presented by the Loveland Artists Collective, which crossed paths with the Covid 19 Pandemic, and was held in South Gallery at Artworks in downtown Loveland, CO, from February 14th – March 28th, 2020.

“The book has long been treasured as a literary work of art, but it is often forgotten in the realm of visual art.   Book arts have been around as long as humanity has been writing and reading, but within the last couple of decades, the book arts have become increasingly diverse and innovative.     The Loveland Artists Collective has been invited to show this group exhibition at Artworks, which is the largest Studio Artist Community in Northern Colorado dedicated to advancing the contemporary arts and visual artists.

The exhibited works spanned a wide range of forms, structures and materials.


My work, “Burning Bush” is in the photo above on pedestal, and  below:

A show to remember.

Wish I could have seen it, but we can, here.

Gratitudes!

Friday Bookmakers Inspiration! We Stand (Sit?!) Together, Making Books! (6)

By

I have been honored to work with a wonderful group of “older adults” at the Craft Contemporary Museum in Los Angeles, offering a series of workshops teaching bookmaking techniques, and providing a forum for creativity, imagination, sharing and story.

The remainder of our series, “Crafting Our Stories By Hand” has had to be postponed due covid19.

Therefore, I have started an email newsletter to keep our community going, offering tips, images and sharing the work these makers are doing at home while “sheltering in place”.

Sharing these newsletters as a blog post makes their contents available for any and all. It inspiring to see what these makers have done and are doing during these crazy times.

Dear Bookmakers,

I am happy to bring you images, tips, inspiration and learning for your bookmaking journey.

I hope you are all well, staying safe, and creating!
You might want to check out the “Crafting Our Stories By Hand” blog post below…it holds wonderful photos of you all taken during our workshops at the Museum. So photogenic you all are (as Yoda would say!)
Also, you can check out all of our weekly newsletters in blog version right here.
This week Vicki completed an elaborate Tunnel Book, so in addition to sharing it here, I am including images that show a step-by-step process of making a simple version of a Tunnel Book, as well as some samples from a workshop I attended a few years ago at the Hammer Museum, where I learned how-to!
Vicki’s Tunnel Book, in her own words,
“This is about the sixth try.  I tried it wrong in every way possible, wrong size, wrong paper, wrong idea etc. etc.  Given that, I am happy with this effort.
I have been spending the remainder of my time collaging, altering paper and marbling.  By the way, it is World Collage Day on May 9th!” (I added that link!)
WOW! gorgeous piece! A real monkey habitat!
In pictures, here is a “how-to” to create a simple Tunnel Book:
 
And some very fanciful examples of tunnel book, from a class where I learned to make them:
An here are two magnificent book projects completed by Sandra…terrific photography also. Sandra says, 
“I made my first book from my stash of vintage prints of women’s fashions — I think 1940s?  Backgrounds are printed patterns found online. Used an old cardboard box as the base. And an entire stick of glue!”
Wow. This is like a tableaux or theater…interesting that both Vicki and Sandra did books that created visual scenes BRAVO!
More from Sandra:
“My second book is a fan book. I started with a Langston Hughes poem ‘Harlem Night Song’ — and then created my version of Harlem at night with song.” You certainly did, Sandra. Wow. I am blown away….
Also, if you can, please join us by ZOOM next Thursday April 30th at 5pm…see details right below.
BYOC (Bring-Your-Own-Craft)
Thursdays | 5 PM
Being cooped up doesn’t mean that creativity has to be confined, too. We want to see the projects you’ve been making—whether it’s a zine, a sweater, or a mask—and craft in (virtual) community rather than from a social distance. Join us for a BYOC (Bring-Your-Own-Craft) Zoom, every Thursday at 5 PM, hosted by a Craft Contemporary staff member. Show us what you’re making and we all craft side-by-side!
BYOC with Holly Jerger – April 30
BYOC with Marisela Norte – May 7
BYOC with Suzanne Isken – May 14
BYOC with Eunice Lee – May 21
Zoom

Well that is it for this week dear Readers and Bookmakers and Both!
If you are able, and so inclined, email us back to share something book-related, or anything of interest you wish.

Stay Safe, Stay Strong, Stay Well, Stay Sane
STAY CREATIVE!
And as Sandra says, “Craft on!

Until next time…

“Crafting Our Stories By Hand”

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I have been honored to work with a wonderful group of “older adults” at the Craft Contemporary Museum in Los Angeles, offering a series of workshops teaching bookmaking techniques, and providing a forum for creativity, imagination, sharing and story.

Here is a treasure trove of moments from our workshops….

 

It has truly been an honor.
Thank you for the incredible artistry, work created, sharing, fun, histories and her-stories, and support of each other.

Looking forward to the next!

Friday Bookmakers Inspiration! We Stand (Sit?!) Together, Making Books! (5)

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Collie working in his “studio” at Craft Contemporary in March, 2020

I have been honored to work with a wonderful group of “older adults” at the Craft Contemporary Museum in Los Angeles, offering a series of workshops teaching bookmaking techniques, and providing a forum for creativity, imagination, sharing and story.

The remainder of our series, “Crafting Our Stories By Hand” has had to be postponed due covid19.

Therefore, I have started an email newsletter to keep our community going, offering tips, images and sharing the work these makers are doing at home while “sheltering in place”.

Sharing these newsletters as a blog post makes their contents available for any and all. It inspiring to see what these makers have done and are doing during these crazy times.

Dear Bookmakers,

I am happy to bring you images, tips, inspiration and learning for your bookmaking journey.

I hope you are all well, staying safe, and creating!
We have some wonderful new works for you to enjoy, and ponder.
I already posted the first two pages of Vicki’s Coronavirus HAIKU book, but she sent some more Haiku poems, and I wanted to share them with you. 
These works may be expressing what many are feeling now, and what a wonderful way to cope with these feelings…making them into poetry, and putting them into your own book creation. 
Vicki’s Coronavirus HAIKU book


Notice the use of color and materials in this piece, somber colors, plain black ink, graph paper. Gets across the serious feeling and intent. Anxiety, questioning, concerns. Very moving, Vicki. Glad your husband is fine, as I understand it.

Here are Sandra’s gorgeous contributions this week. Sandra also participated in the Craft Contemporary’s Zoom Craft-In gathering yesterday, and shared these works, to many oohs and ahhhs…
Sandra says, “First book is another catalogue taken apart and reconfigured using the exposed spine construction. A few pages…..”


Beautiful use of stitching in this piece….bravo! Fun, whimsical, adds an extra dimension, makes the viewer stop a moment.

“Second book was made of paint chip scraps with a stick (brush) binding. I had listened to Jerry Saltz’s new book “How to be an Artist”. Some of his ‘rules’ inspired me to create a book around them. He’s the New York magazine art critic. I love him! A few pages……”


Sandra has an incredible facility with shapes and colors, graphics and design. Notice how the black and white text stands out against the colorful shapes. Very imaginative use of paint chips too! We can all use what we find around us to create books!

Well that is it for this week dear Readers!

If you are able, and so inclined, use the comments section to share something book-related, or anything of interest you wish.

Stay safe, stay strong, stay well

STAY CREATIVE!
In peace and hope and truth and beauty,

And as Sandra says, 

“Craft on!

Friday Bookmakers Inspiration! We Stand (Sit?!) Together, Making Books! (4)

By

I have been honored to work with a wonderful group of “older adults” at the Craft Contemporary Museum in Los Angeles, offering a series of workshops teaching bookmaking techniques, and providing a forum for creativity, imagination, sharing and story.

The series, “Crafting Our Stories By Hand” has had to be postponed due covid19.

Therefore, I have started an email newsletter to keep our community going, offering tips, images and sharing the work these makers are doing at home while “sheltering in place”.

Sharing these newsletters as a blog post makes their contents available for any and all. It inspiring to see what these makers have done and are doing during these crazy times.

Dear Bookmakers,

I am happy to bring you images, tips, inspiration and learning for your bookmaking journey.

I hope you are all well, staying safe, and creating!
Collie and Sunshine, have not heard from you yet…please send up a flare and let us know how you are doing….
Today I will share with you:
  • Wondrous new works by VICKI!
  • Wondrous new works by SANDRA!
  • A link to my blog post about an incredible exhibition of Flag Books created by teens!
Please note that images are included here, and also as attachments at the bottom of this email.
 
First, THIS:
The inside of Vicki’s “Book in a Box”, made for her granddaughter, that did not make it into last week’s newsletter! (Please see attached also-)
Inline image
Our newsletter from last week had an incorrect link! The link to last weeks’s newsletter mistakenly went to the Wikipedia page of the poet W.H. Auden…pardon me!
Here is that same newsletter, with corrected link, in the form of a blog post.
Now, onto this week’s content! (Using radical red for our verbiage…to give you a boost of energy during these challenging days).
 
PLEASE NOTE: Both Vicki and Sandra used maps in their BookWorks!
Interesting….
From VICKI!
“First book was made like paperbacks are made.” 


WOW
“The second is an envelope flip book with various pockets inside for storing travel ephemera.   The haiku book was created by assembling a number of different papers together putting them together in the press and gluing all edges on one side until it was like a note pad.  Then I just glued it together with the cover.  
OUTSIDE THE BOOK:
 
The inside pages with arrows indicate openings. Based on how many books I am sharing, you wisely said the sharing is important to the maker.”
 
INSIDE THE BOOK:
 
From SANDRA:
“I’m so glad you’ve created a weekly email for us. Keeps me going.
Also I spoke with Marisela at the museum today. All is well there.
Anyway, here is my work for the week. I tried a new structure for the first book and used old Paris postcards, a Paris map, and metro subway routes.”
“I found a little group of Polaroid snippets that my daughter found in one of her art classes in middle school eons ago. Gathered them up in a photo book of sorts, using the tied binding technique.
That’s it for now. I pore over the bookmaking books all of the time to get ideas. What great resources!“

Finally, enjoy and let us know what you think about these amazing Flag Books VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) students created at Verdugo Hills High School this past Winter. Just click either link to read the post.
What do YOU think about how the form of the book can connect what we present on the Outside, to what we actually feel on the Inside?
One of those systems of opposites we talked about, and I suggested you use a =s a creative prompt for your bookmaking, content, visuals and writing!
In case you missed it, here is our second newsletter in the form of a blog post, if it is easier for you to read, share and enjoy in this format.

Well that is it for this week dear Craft Contemporary Bookmakers!

If you are able, and so inclined, email us all back and share something book-related, or anything of interest you wish.

Stay safe, stay strong, stay well

STAY CREATIVE!
In peace and hope and truth and beauty,

debra