Debra Disman

Artist

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ARTISTS

Exhibitionista: The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity

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I am  honored to participate in:

The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity

Jurors: Bexx Caswell-Olson, Ann Kresge, Joe Sanders

Opening Reception
Friday, Aug. 28 | 7–9 pm

I will be showing two pieces:


Prairie

and


Maximum Security

A book begins as a small mass of material, formed and pressed into life by ideas, words, and machines. A concept becomes thought, becomes word, becomes book, becomes sculpture. From the tactile complexity of handmade paper, to the alteration of existing volumes, to a variety of other materials and concepts, these objects, in an increasingly digital world, stubbornly survive. The objects in this exhibition will interpret the concept of the book and invite the viewer to look beyond the printed page to where word has become form.

The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity  will be presented online until further notice.

However, the exhibition will be installed at the Decatur Branch of the DeKalb County Public Library, in anticipation that the Periodicals Gallery at the Decatur Library may be open for limited viewing before the advertised end of the exhibition (October 17).

Virtual programming is in development to supplement and enhance viewer experience. 

Exhibitionista: “Material Identity”

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“How does materiality represent who we are? Does the material you use dictate who you are as a maker? How does medium speak to who you are as an individual?”

I am honored to participate in the show “Material Identity”

See the Show!

In the exhibition Material Identity, 27 artists and makers from 3 countries and 16 states explore the substance of material, paying special attention to their place in the world, either from a focus inward, or how they identify in society at large. This international exhibition was juried by Jiseon Lee Isbara, Otis College of Art and Design, and Jessica Kooiman Parker, Boulder Dairy Art Center.

I am showing:


Throes of the Body 

and


Profusion

MATERIAL IDENTITY runs from July 10 – August 29, 2020
AT:
Artworks Loveland
Center for Contemporary Art

info@artworksloveland.org
970-663-5555
310 N. Railroad Avenue
Loveland, CO 80537

 

 

Exhibitionista: DRIVE-BY-ART Los Angeles

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Drive-By-Art Los Angeles was an amazing outside public art exhibition organized by Warren Neidich, Renee Petropoulos, Michael Slenske and Anuradha Vikram.

DRIVE-BY-ART (Public Art in This Moment of Social Distancing), was  designed as an outdoor public art exhibition that could be experienced from the safety and intimacy of one’s own automobile. (Perfect for LA).

WEBSITE: www.drive-by-art.org
CONTACT: info@drive-by-art.org

Two locations were divided East and West of Western Avenue over two weekends.

EAST LA: was MAY 23rd-25th East of Western Avenue including Altadena, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Frogtown, Glassell Park, Mount Washington, Highland Park, Chinatown (Cypress Park and Elysian Park), Glendale, Sunland, Tujunga, Eagle Rock, Atwater, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Koreatown, MacArthur Park, Rampart Village, Historic Filipinotown, Little Armenia, Los Feliz, East Hollywood, Downtown LA and University Park.
Times: 12-6pm + night viewings at select locations Saturday, May 23rd, 8pm-midnight

WEST LA: was MAY 30th-31st West of Western Avenue including Crenshaw, Leimert Park, Baldwin Hills, West Adams, Culver City, Inglewood, Mid City, Mid-Wilshire, Venice, Mar Vista, Marina Del Rey, Palms, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Westwood, Beverly Glen, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Beverly Wood and Century City.
Times: 12-6pm + night viewings at select locations Saturday, May 30th, 8pm-midnight- these had to be cancelled due to rioting, looting and unrest across Los Angeles.

I showed, “Eat Your Young“, and installation that was installed over one of the windows on the exterior of my studio at 18th Street Arts Center.

Video Player

Participating artists included: Luciana Abait, Lita Albuquerque, Marcel Alcala, Shagha Ariannia, Charles Arnoldi, Joshua Aster, Elena Bajo, Sharon Barnes, Sarah Beadle, Jeff Beall, Scott Benzel, Andrew Berardini, Lauren Bon, Olivia Booth, Theodore Boyer, Leonardo Bravo, Kimberly Brooks, Rebecca Bruno, Anita Bunn, Jedediah Caesar, Nancy Baker Cahill, Kristin Calabrese, Angel Chen, Joe Day, Yasmine Diaz, Debra Disman, Dani Dodge, Paul Donald, Dana Berman Duff, Bradney Evans, Rochelle Fabb, Katja Farin, Renée A. Fox, Cayetano Ferrer, Shahla K. Friberg, Francesca Gabbiani, Yrneh Gabon, Kiva Garber-Maikovska, Sonja Gerdes, Chet Glaze, Todd Gray, Phyllis Green, Robert Gunderman, Julia Haft-Candell, Robert Herbst, Gilah Yelin Hirsch, Evan Holloway, Andrew Holmquist, Bettina Hubby, Salomon Huerta, Steve Hurd, Max Jansons, Vincent Johnson, Kyle Jorgensen, JPW3, Annetta Kapon, Michael Kelly, Mak Kern, Mirena Kim, John Knuth, Marcus Kuiland-Nazario, Dan Kwong, Thomas Lawson, Kang Seung Lee, Rebecca Levinson, Thomas Linder/Timo Fahler, Sydney Littenberg, Karen Lofgren, Shana Lutker, Marisa Mandler, Chandler McWilliams, Jason Meadows, Adam Moskowitz, Brian C. Moss, Dave Muller, Nicole Nadeau, Stephen Neidich, Kori Newkirk, Ben Wolf Noam, Jordie Oetken, Stas Orlovski, Erika Ostrander, Mamiko Otsubo, Anita Pace, Xiou Ping, Mary Anna Pomonis, Vanessa Prager, Nicole Rademacher, Lucas Reiner, Jackie Rines, Shelby Roberts, Nina R. Salerno, Aram Saroyan, David Schafer, Kenny Scharf, Marty Schnapf, Kim Schoenstadt, Kristine Schomaker, Julia Schwartz, Kyungmi Shin, Susan Silton, Francesco Siqueiros, Emilija Škarnulytė, Natalie Smith, Cammie Staros, Janet Sternburg, Christian Tedeschi, Lincoln Tobier, Dani Tull, Victoria Vesna, Henry Vincent, Alice Wang, Dan S. Wang, Sterling Wells, Jennifer West, Takako Yamaguchi, Kulapat Yantrasast, Jason Yates, Jenny Yurshansky, Jody Zellen, and Peter Zellner.

Drive-By-Art was created by Warren Neidich, a conceptual artist, theorist and organizer. He is the founding director of Saas-Fee Summer Institute of Art and the American editor of Archive Books, Berlin and Milan.

View an amazing film by Eric Minh Swenson
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CA8ebK_F57O/?igshid=agy20pkkaaiu
of Drive By Art Los Angeles…featuring among others, local 18th Street Art Center  Artists in Residence Dan Kwong, Jeff Beall, and yours truly.

Exhibitionista: “EXPRESSIONS 2020”

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Diving into the world of virtual exhibitions, online presentations, and digital shows….

I am honored to be included in:

“EXPRESSIONS 2020”

Presented by The Marin Society of Artists
Juror: Andrea Schwartz of Andrea Schwartz Gallery

I am showing “Torrent and Tangle: Keep Your House in Order” 2019, mixed media (book board, hemp cord, canvas, watercolor paper, lace, ribbon, acrylic paint)


Photography: Elon Schoenholz

“These are extraordinary and unprecedented times with the COVID-19 virus affecting our daily lives. The well being of our visitors, artists and community as well as continuing to showcase artists’ work is of utmost importance. To that end, Marin Society of Artists has decided to present our Expressions 2020 exhibition in a virtual gallery venue. The virtual gallery will be on view for six weeks, commencing May 14, 2020.” The show runs through June 27, 2020. Tour the show!

Exhibitionista: Small Works at Vanessa Lacy Gallery

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I am thrilled to be part of the 3rd Annual Spring Small Works show at the Vanessa Lacey Gallery.

The 3rd Annual Spring Small Works Show Virtual Edition at Vanessa Lacy Gallery is now live!  Browse affordable art under 14 inches from the comfort of your own home.

Vanessa Lacey chose works she felt would be uplifting to the viewers.

I am showing Narrow Bridge, a flag book made of board, tissue paper, window shade material, linen thread, and collage.


Outside, Front Cover

Inside, it says in stitching:
“The Whole World is A Narrow Bridge
The Important Thing Is Not To Fear”


Exterior
The book is comprised of an accordion-folded spine, with two covers, and flag pages attached to opposite sides of the folds, so that they create an alternating pattern when the book is opened.

A message of hope, assurance and our connectivity as human beings.

May you walk your own Narrow Bridge with hope and confidence and move through your own fears during this challenging time.

Stay Safe
Stay Well
Stay Sane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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!