Debra Disman

Artist

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Artists' Books

Sunland-Tujunga: Artist Residency Culmination Event!

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I have been honored to be an Artist-in-Residence at the Sunland-Tujunga Library, supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, conducting a series of bookmaking workshops for the community. As part of this Residency, I conducted two workshops at Verdugo Hills High School, for Freshman VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts Magnet) English students.

On February 15th, we held a Residency Culmination event at the Library, complete with bookmaking activities, refreshments, and an exhibition of hand-made books created by adults participating in the Library’s “Wide Open Reading” group, and VAPA students.

We had a blast!


Three bookmaking projects were running in the Community Room.


Mother and Daughter work side by side.


A member of the Library’s “Wide Open Reading” group stands by her handmade book.


Patiently creating detail with tiny butterfly shapes.


Another Mom and Daughter team…artists working together.


Young adult artist proudly shares her creations.

Young artist from the VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) magnet at neighboring Verdugo Hills High School and her flag book created in a two workshop series held in her freshman VAPA English class. The books contrasted how students wanted to present themselves and how they felt they were perceived on the outside (exterior book covers) with how they feel on the inside- the flag pages).

It has been very moving to see makers create and share works which reveal them on various levels.

Gratitudes!

From the Inside Out

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I have been honored to be an Artist-in-Residence at the Sunland-Tujunga Library, supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, conducting a series of bookmaking workshops for the community. As part of this Residency, I conducted two workshops at Verdugo Hills High School, for Freshman VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts Magnet) students.

I taught the flag book structure, and the stellar English VAPA teacher Mrs. Leserman worked with the students in class between the workshops to develop their books.

To connect the project with her VAPA English Curriculum which included the study of J.D. Salinger‘s Catcher in the Rye,  she had the students develop the outsides of their books to reflect the ways they felt they were being seen, and how they wanted to be seen by the outside world, and then directed them to develop the inside flag pages to express how they actually felt on the inside.

The results were both moving and stunning.

Wide Open Bookmaking

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I have been honored to be an Artist-in-Residence at the Sunland-Tujunga Library, supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, conducting a series of bookmaking workshops for the community.

It was great fun to lead a bookmaking workshop in early February for a group that meets at the Library called, “Wide Open Reading”. What a wonderful-sounding activity!

Participants came together to create single signature sewn books, with pockets created by an “inner cover” or casing, and glued on covers. A

A creative time was had by all!

Participants learned about signatures (a gathering of folded pages that comprise the text block of a traditional western style codex book structure),

and sewed signatures that had been prepared for them into an inner cover, with folded pockets.

They then had a blast using all kinds of materials to develop, embellish and adorn their inside and outside covers, and even a few pages!

Camaraderie and interaction among the group is a big part of the fun.

And, of course, pride in the final (or not so final) “product”.

Wide Open Reading deserves wide open bookmaking, and the makers certainly achieved this.

Bravo!

Accordions, Books and Stories at the Sunland-Tujunga Branch Library

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I am honored to be an Artist-in-Residence at the Sunland-Tujunga Library, supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, conducting a series of bookmaking workshops for the community.

To kick off the new year and decade, I taught an accordion fold book with pockets workshop, and engaged families and individuals in creating their own books to hold memories, hopes, dreams, wishes and other treasures.


Participants folded prepared pastel paper into accordion pages and pockets.


and added covers, then developed content, embellished and decorated!


One young maker created a highly developed work telling the story of Little Red Riding Hood, in her own way.


Complete with text and illustrations.


Don’t forget the jewels!

Treasures to hold treasures to last a lifetime….

Happy 2020!

Seeing 2020: Making a Calendar at the Granada Hills Library Part II

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As part of my Artist Residency at the Granada Hills Branch Library supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs,  we welcomed a new year and new decade with a calendar-making program!
Using an Asian-style side stab binding stitch, participants sewed their calendar pages between a front cover made of watercolor paper to allow it to bend, and thus open, and  a back cover made of board, to keep the calendar pages from bending.
Once they had completed the labor of putting the pieces together, the proud makers proceeded to embellish their creations with zeal!

Teen Council members served as assistants, and participants! We were so lucky to have them.

In a digitized world, working with our hands becomes even more precious.
Mom looks on….
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Mom participates!
Grandma gets into the act!
A family of sisters.
A family of makers.
 
Caring and devoted Children’s Librarian Stephanie encourages a happy family to proudly share their calendars with the camera.
2020 is off to a good start.
Happy New Decade!

Seeing 2020: Making a Calendar at the Granada Hills Library Part I

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As part of my Artist Residency at the Granada Hills Branch Library supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs,  we welcomed a new year and new decade with a calendar-making program!

Participants sewed together their calendar pages between front and back cover, and proceeded to embellish their creations with zeal!


Some ambitious participants covered their covers in decorative papers before binding!


inside and


outside cover designs.


We were blessed with a great group of teens that both assisted and participated in the making process.


Mother and Daughter work together creating their calendars step by step.


When the calendars were bound, participants were encouraged to add  content to the reverse of each page and add highlight each month’s special dates.


Nothing could surpass the glorious adornment of the front covers (made of watercolor paper), a celebration of materials in a riot of color, pattern and texture.


Some of our wonderful and industrious teen helpers from the Library Teen Council took it upon themselves to sort through all the binding cords and arrange them by color. WOW. Not even I have ever had the patience to do that! Thank you!


The caring and devoted Children’s librarian Stephanie encourages a happy family to share their calendars with the camera and be proud!
So were we all.
Happy 2020!