Artists' Books

“The Book as Art 2018: PULP”

September 6, 2018 By Debra Disman

The Book as Art 2018 is an exhibition organized by the Decatur Arts Alliance, the Georgia Center for the Book and the DeKalb Library Foundation.

This sixth year of “The Book as Art” is called:
Book as Art v6: Pulp
Juried by Lisa Beth Robinson, Stephanie Smith and Cynthia Nourse Thompson,
the show runs August 10–September 28 and is open during library hours.
It is held in The Periodicals Gallery of the Decatur Library,
215 Sycamore St., Decatur, Ga.

“A book begins as a small mass of material, formed and pressed into life by ideas, words, and machines. Pulp becomes paper, becomes thought, becomes word, becomes book, becomes sculpture.

Pulp is the impetus and endgame of these physical book objects. From the tactile complexity of handmade paper, to the sensational tabloid tales of pulp fiction, these objects, in an increasingly digital world, stubbornly survive.

These objects interpret the concept of the book and invite the viewer to look beyond the printed page to where word has become form.

Book As Art: Pulp is the sixth edition of this critically acclaimed artist book exhibition established by the Decatur Arts Alliance in 2013. Entries hail from across the United States and around the world, and from emerging artists as well as recognized masters in the genre. The Book As Art is pleased to present these examples from the finest in the field.” — The Book As Art 2018

I am honored to have two pieces in the show:

Profusion
Artists’ Book/Sculpture
2018, 8.75″ x 24.5″ x 7.75″, book board, paper, hemp cord, canvas

Inside

Detail

Outside

and

Burning Bush
Artists’ Book/Sculpture
2018, 7.5″ x 11″ x 5.5″, book board, paper, hemp cord, canvas

Inside

Detail

Outside

I wish I could see the show.
Los Angeles is just too far away from Georgia!

If You can, please do!
And don’t miss the
Closing Reception | white glove night
Friday, Sept. 27 | 6-8 pm
Join us for one last look at these works of book art. And we’re putting away the “do not touch” signs. Volunteers will provide participants with white gloves to allow firsthand exploration of the books in the exhibition. ––The Book as Art 2018

Sounds like black tie optional, white gloves required.

I hope many view and enjoy before that time.

Kudos to the jurors and organizers on what looks to be a sublime effort.

GrAtItUdEs

Creating in Compton

August 31, 2018 By Debra Disman

It was wonderful to work with families to create books at the Compton Library.

Participants worked together to create the fun and versatile “flag book” structure.

Community members got to know each other in the library, through the work of their hands.

Siblings and Moms created in community.

Even the Staff got into the creative act.

Creating together brought smiles…

perhaps the greatest gift of all.

LACMA LOVE: The Art of the Book 3: The Flag Book

August 21, 2018 By Debra Disman

We started off our Family Bookmaking Workshop series at The Los Angeles County Museum of Art with the Accordion Fold Book, then moved onto “The Folded Fan” book (my own nomenclature) which also employed the accordion/concertina fold to great effect.

We completed our series with The Flag Book, a fun, versatile and quite kinetic structure “invented” by German-born and noted book artist Hedi Kyle.

We visited the Broad Contemporary Art Museum (“BCAM“), and looked at artist Barbara Kruger‘s monumental elevator piece, “Shafted“.

Students chose what view they wished to draw (or, sketch). then returned to the Park View Studio to look at our drawings, learn the Flag Book structure, create our books, then develop and embellish them! (This last the reward, some might say, of the effort that went before).

Participants were encouraged to use text to develop their books, and see how this “found writing” technique could be read in different ways up and down and across their books. They had been able to observe the power of graphical text first hand viewing the Kruger piece.

Mother and daughter working together.

She came to our workshop with her grandmother…not pictured!

Summer teacher (all the way from Chicago!) and student, taking advantage of LACMA‘s educational offerings!

This wonderful duo attended all three workshops!

The grown-ups need an art-making break too!

Such a lovely group to work with.

We love you, LACMA!

2018 California OPENing

August 16, 2018 By Debra Disman

I am thrilled and honored to be part of the 2018 California Open Exhibition held this year at the beautiful Tag Gallery in Los Angeles, near LACMA (The Los Angeles County Museum of Art) August 8-24, with an opening reception Saturday August 11th, 5PM – 8PM.

Beloved and acclaimed LA-based artist Kim Abeles juried this show, and her statement about it in the Press Release is telling.

Gallery Director, Rakeem Cunningham, sent out these installation images as well as a great inventory of Works in the Show. Thanks to Rakeem and Kim for their devoted work and ongoing efforts to make this show a great one, as well as to the wonderful Tag Gallery artists who opened their gallery “home” and their hearts to all of us who exhibited, made the Opening Reception a gala, and supported the cause with such heart and generosity.

This is an engaging and eclectic show. I was thrilled to see the work of three other (WOMEN!!!) artists that I know and have worked with in the show: photographer Marta Feinstein, printmaker and fellow LACMA teaching artist Brooke Sauer, and sculptor Karena Massengill. I share their work below as well as my own, and some images of the Opening. Really fun.

Throngs of beautiful souls crowd the gallery.

Stunned to find flowers here from my family! Mark and I get documented…

Sunflowers illuminated the evening, and graced the Gallery’s Reception desk. Pictured here photographer Marta Feinstein, a fellow exhibiting artist.

My piece, “Throes of the Body“, completed during my Studio Residency at 1450 Ocean in Santa Monica.

The work of colleagues..

It has been a great experience.

The exhibition runs through Friday, August 24th, 5pm.
If you have not yet seen it, check it out!

There is something for everyone there!

GrAtItUdEs

LACMA LOVE: The Art of the Book 2: The Folded Fan Book

August 8, 2018 By Debra Disman

We visited the B. Gerald Cantor Sculpture Garden, and viewed Chris Burden‘s master work, “Urban Light“, observed and drew perspective, “layers” and distance (“things being behind and in front of other things” ) then returned to the Park View Studio to look at our drawings, learn the “folded fan” book structure, create our books, then develop and embellish them! (This last the reward, some might say, of the effort that went before).

Side by side…

Peer to Peer support, children AND parents!

The support team.

It’s creation time!

Dynamic duo.

Co-creative-conspirators.

Working together.

Mom as assistant!

Show and tell…she was too shy, so Dad did it!

Sharing time on the stage.

Everyone wins..such a beautiful time had by parents and children working together, side-by-side, cheering each other on.

What could be better?

LACMA LOVE: The Art of the Book 1: The Accordion Book

August 3, 2018 By Debra Disman

We started off our Family Bookmaking Workshop series at The Los Angeles County Museum of Art with Accordion Fold/Concertina Fold Books, a basic yet complex structure, as regards to the amount of surfaces makers had to work on and develop.

We visited Chris Burden‘s master work, “Metropolis II“, observed and drew movement, then returned to the Park View Studio to look at our drawings, learn the accordion fold book structure, create our books, then develop and embellish them!

Mom and son work together.