Debra Disman

Artist

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BOOKS

CRAFTING HISTORIES online

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It has been an honor to work with Craft Contemporary to lead:

CRAFTING HISTORIES
Bookmaking Online Workshop 

“The Art of the Book: Crafting Our Stories By Hand is an online workshop series specifically designed by Craft Contemporary and artist Debra Disman for adults over the age of 55. This program is made possible by funding from Aroha Philanthropies and is part of a nationwide campaign to bring thoughtful and specialized programs to a valuable population that is often undeserved by arts institutions.

Workshop participants were introduced to ideas of storytelling through materials and the handmade. They were encouraged to tell their own stories using paper and everyday materials, while exploring what the term book means, why books are important, and how they have functioned through time and culture.”

See our extraordinary participants and their work here….and prepare to be amazed.

 

Staying OPEN

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It is an honor to be participating in the 2020 CALIFORNIA OPEN Exhibition at TAG Gallery.
You can visit the show live and in-person by appointment:
TAG Gallery 5458 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
310.829.9556 | [email protected] | 11am -5pm, Tue-Sat

TAG Gallery is thrilled to share the 15th Annual 2020 CALIFORNIA OPEN  Exhibition, featuring unique art pieces from 99 artists from around the United States.

Juror Kate Mothes , accomplished founder of Young Space @yngspc and Dovetail Magazine @dovetail.mag thoughtfully selected nearly 1000 works submitted from our national call for art to assemble what is a uniquely incredible show.

She says,

“Much has already been written about the unprecedented time we find ourselves in,” explains juror Kate Mothes. “As I reviewed the submissions for the California Open, I had a raised awareness of the circumstances and time period during which much of the work had been made.”

“I like the ‘openness’ of the California Open concept,” continues Mothes, “so in my selections I tried to maintain a diversity of ideas and themes, and to the best of ability with the information at hand, include artists of diverse backgrounds. With this in mind, I also considered the craftsmanship of each work, and included a range of media types. It was a pleasure to review all of the submissions to this year’s open call, and I thank TAG Gallery for inviting me to participate as juror this year!”

View the 2020 California Open Exhibition  here!
ENJOY the Artist Chat:
Wednesday, September 23, 3pm – California Open 2020 Artist Chat via Zoom (sign up on Facebook required)

2020 CALIFORNIA OPEN PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

Troy Aiken, Norman Aragones, Sarah Arnold, Louis Balicki, Jenny Balisle, Michele Benzamin-Miki, Reiko Berg, Allegra Bick-Maurischat, Raydel Blanco, Alessia Bothorel, Nancy Byrnes, Julie Carcione Cavaz, Chung-Ping Cheng, Michael Chesler, Jonathan Crow, Laurie Curran, Jaren Dahlstrom, Debra Disman, Lee Dollison, Laurence Elias, Mims Ellis, Robert Esau, Mumtaz Essa, Astrid Francis, Rinaldo Frattolillo, Gail Glikmann, Aspen Golann, Leslie Goldenberg, Bart Goldman, Emily Gomez, Keri Haarhoff, Andy Hann, Debra Hintz, Gary Hong, Cathy Immordino, Federico Imperiale, Marta Jaremko, Joan Karp, Sassoon Kosian, Faina Kumpan, Esther Kwan, JJ L’Heureux, Julie La Rue, Bonnie Lambert, John Langdon, Michelene Laski, Tom Lasley, Nancy Goodman Lawrence, Nakyung Lee, Andrew Leventis, Roberta Levitow, Whitman Lindstrom, Janet Manalo, Don Manderson, Carmen Mardonez, Andrew Martin, Melissa McClellan, Janet Milhomme, Zachary Miller, Eliza Ann Mitchell, Joseph Moreno, Nelson Munares, Perola Navarro, Bryan Northup, Joe A. Oakes, Cara Park, James Parlin, Nora Pineda, Sherry Pollack Walker, Justin Prough, Manaz Raiszadeh, Michael Roy, Gigi Salij, David Shannon, Ashley Shellhause, Sam Shokati, Jen Solomon, Tianyi Sun, Emily Sunez, Pam Sutherland, Viviana Svidler, Ariel Swartley, Robin Tripaldi, Michael Usher, Paul Valadez, Crystal Vicars, Amy Vidra, Catherine Walker, Sheldon Walker, Emily Wallerstein, Eric Welch, Mira White, Debbie Wolf, Wendy Widell Wolff, Travis Worden, Miss Art World, Amy Wright, Shingo Yamazaki, Jim Zver

CALIFORNIA OPEN INFORMATION

EXHIBITIONISTA: The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity

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I am honored to show two pieces in The Book As Art v.8: Infinity
exhibition happening:

August 28 through October 17 | virtual tour only
The Periodicals Gallery of the Decatur Library
215 Sycamore St., Decatur, Ga. 30030

The Book As Art v.8: Infinity is installed at the Decatur Branch of the DeKalb County Public Library, and virtual tours, artist talks, and more will be provided throughout its run. Check out the catalog, and remember, these works are available for purchase!

I am showing: “PRAIRIE“and “MAXIMUM SECURITY” below.

“Held in the hand, a book can be a source of stability in unsettled times. Tactile and olfactory, the black and white pages conjure emotions and images that endure longer than flickering light on small screens. From tablet to folio, papyrus to scroll, song to psalm—all are created as a concept that becomes thought, becomes word, becomes book, becomes sculpture. 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 ideas, words, and symbols are transformed and are transfigurative.

They are expressive, expansive and iconic. They have become form, and are infinite.

The Book as Art v.8: Infinity is the eighth edition of this critically acclaimed artists 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.”

Watch the
The Book as Art v.8: Infinity Virtual Opening!

Live Zoom Events (FREE tickets via Eventbrite, links available soon)

Oct. 7: Artist Talk with Valerie Aranda and Clemente Orozco Farías
Oct. 14: Artist Talk with Stephanie Russ and Isabelle Fleurelien
Oct. 21: Artist Interview: Peggy Johnston
Oct. 28: Artist Showcase and Discussion: Nicole Polonsky, Christian Feneck, Chris Revelle, Debra Disman

 

Exhibitionista: 2020 CALIFORNIA OPEN

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I am thrilled to be part of the
2020 CALIFORNIA OPEN
at TAG Gallery.

For the 2020 California Open Exhibition  juror Kate Mothes selected 101 unique objects of fine art from 99 artists.
Nearly 1,000 entries were submitted to the artist call.

The 2020 California Open displays at TAG in all of the downstairs galleries from September 9 — October 1. Fine art viewings are available by appointment only until Stay Home orders are lifted for Los Angeles. Please call or email the gallery for more information.

Kate Mothes, juror, “is founder and curator of Young Space and Co-founder/Editor of Dovetail Magazine. Young Space (yngspc) is an independent, itinerant, online-offline contemporary art platform emphasizing early career and emerging artists. Dovetail Magazine is an independent online + print contemporary arts publication that positions contemporary visual art in dialogue with design, architecture, photography, travel, and global visual culture. Mothes earned a Bachelors in Art History from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and a Masters in the History of Art, Theory and Display from Edinburgh College of Art at the University of Edinburgh. She is currently based in the Upper Midwest.”

I am showing “FALLING“, 2019, 7 x 24.5 x 10.5”, mixed media (Book board, hemp cord, watercolor paper, mulberry paper)

 

Linkage: See the Shows, Hear the Artists!

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It has been a joy to participate in a number of exhibitions and artist talks over the past several months.

Partially due to the current pandemic, shows, panels, artist talks and more are being put online, and made accessible to the public  at no cost to the viewer/listener.

We hope that these offerings support energy, spirit, imagination and creativity, as well as health and resilience, during this unprecedented era.

Click, and enjoy.

To Your Health.

“The Artful Book“:  The Long Beach Museum of Art
Tour the exhibition!

“Drawing Connections“: 18th Street Art Center Airport Campus Gallery , Santa Monica, CA
Tour the Exhibition with Curator Frida Cano!

“Material Identity” : Loveland Center for Contemporary Art, Loveland, CO
Tour the Exhibition! 
Listen to participating artists talk with Executive Director Sarah LaBarre and Curator Jessica Kooiman Parker

“Facing Darkness” 18th Street Art Center online
Tour the Exhibition!
Explore the Show By Theme/Explore the concept of the COLLECTIVE

Preparing for: Crafting our Stories By Hand Online

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I am thrilled to be preparing to teach:
The Art of the Book: Crafting Our Stories By Hand  ONLINE!


Visual Feast…Eye Candy…Material World

Crafting Histories: Bookmaking with Debra Disman –  an Online Workshop Series


Colorful packets of bookmaking materials

The Art of the Book: Crafting Our Stories By Hand is an online workshop series specifically designed by Craft Contemporary and artist Debra Disman for adults over the age of 55. This program is made possible by funding from Aroha Philanthropies and is part of a nationwide campaign to bring thoughtful and specialized programs to a valuable population that is often undeserved by arts institutions.We invite you to register for this cycle’s participant cohort. This 8-session bookmaking series taught by artist Debra Disman will meet through the online platform Zoom, every Friday at 11am – 1pm. Starting August 7 through September 18, 2020. The program will conclude with a final presentation and discussion of works and experiences, participants will also be provided a group document and online presence to share their work with friends and family.


Hemp cord and prepped book pages and covers for sewn book structures, bright tagboard for folded and glued book forms.

Objective: Learn how to create folded, glued and sewn book structures. Learn how to use bookmaking as an expressive vehicle for communication. Learn to share stories through the medium of bookmaking

Participants will be introduced to ideas of storytelling through materials and the handmade. We will explore what the term book means, why books are important, and how they have functioned through time and culture.


Andres‘s helping hands and design eye

Orientation: Friday, August 7
Session 1: Friday, August 14
Session 2: Friday, August 21
Session 3: Friday, August 28
Session 4: Friday, September 4
Session 5: Friday, September 11
Critique & Wrap-up: Friday, September 18
Culminating Event: Friday, September 25

Andres Payan Estrada, Curator of Public Engagement at Craft Contemporary in action, prepping materials packets for participants.