Debra Disman

Artist

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BOOKS

Bookmaking for the New Year at the Canoga Park Library!

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Book arts are alive and well at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

I am thrilled to continue my artist residency there, working with the community, teaching bookmaking workshops (or leading “programs” in library parlance!)

The series, entitled “We Write the Book”, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will offer 11 hands-on bookmaking workshops and a culmination event to the community free of charge, with all materials included!

On January 10, 2024 community participants gathered to create an “organizer” book for the New Year and beyond. Participants folded a pocketed accordion book, added covers, then launched into adorning their books with images, decorative papers, “gems”, markers and more. They added “note” papers to their pockets with inspirational words and images. A beautiful, and hopeful time was had by all!

 

ARTISTS TALK at the IRVINE FINE ARTS CENTER!

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In May of 2023 I was privileged to participate in an

IRVINE FINE ARTS CENTER

ARTISTS PANEL DISCUSSION

 about the exhibitions NORTH NODE and ARIES RISING exhibitions

It was fun, it was fascinating, it was fitting!

If you would like to see and hear it, please go to:

ARTISTS PANEL

and use the
PASSWORD: !5V@zPur

I was one of six women artists in

ARIES RISING
Curated by Virginia Arce

March 11–May 20, 2023
Irvine Fine Arts Center Main Gallery + Gallery 2

“Rooted in the generative characteristics of spring, Aries Rising presents a collection of sculptural and two-dimensional artworks made of metal, fiber, and mixed media whose sensibilities reflect an organic source. Featured artists in the exhibition share a curiosity about human perception as it relates to the environment, both natural and manmade, reflected in their manipulation of material and form.”

Artists featured:
Renée Azenaro, Debra Disman, Mirena Kim, Sofia V. Gonzales, Zara Kuredjian, and
Susan Lizotte.

Join us to Make Books at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

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Join us to create a beautiful and fun holiday book based on the closed spine accordion structure!

Learn the accordion fold, add covers and “close” the spine so that the book can both open in pages, or extend into a sculptural form.

This workshop is part of my Artist residency: “We Write the Book”, held at the Canoga Park Branch Library, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs!

Join Us!

Halloween Tunnel Bookmaking at the Canoga Park Branch Library

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Book arts are alive and well at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

I am thrilled to continue my artist residency there, working with the community, teaching all manner of how-to bookmaking workshops, or “programs” in library parlance!

The series, entitled “We Write the Book”, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will offer 11 hands-on bookmaking workshops and a culmination event to the community free of charge, with all materials included!

Participants from children to teens to families to seniors learned how to create the three-dimensional Tunnel Book structure, creating their own Halloween scenes and more, combining theater, books, stories and celebration into their movable dramas!

 

Sharing “Contemplating Boundaries” at the Korean Cultural Center

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A LAUNCH LA OPEN CALL GROUP EXHIBITION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KOREAN CULTURAL CENTER, LOS ANGELES,

“CONTEMPLATING BOUNDARIES” was held

JULY 27th – AUGUST 18th, 2023

“Boundaries exist in all cultures-often as social constructs serving to regulate our actions, norms, taboos, and space. They may be codified laws, common societal traditions, or even self-imposed rules. 

“Contemplating Boundaries” brought together artists from across Southern California whose practices contemplate and reflect barriers, labels and limits- whatever their origin or purpose. These artists and their works- define our times, providing an authentic lens to view contemporary culture.

Please see a video of the exhibition!

JURORS

TeaYoun Kim-Kassor (Professor, Department Chair, Otis College of Art and Design)  TeaYoun Kim-Kassor (Phonetically, TaeYun: “Tea” as in “Taylor” & “Youn” as in “Sun”) is originally from South Korea and has a varied background in education; she received academic degrees in S. Korea, Japan, and the U.S.

As an artist, educator, and cultural ambassador, she has been developing her artistic path, teaching pedagogy, leadership, and management skills to embark on transnational education and emphasize the importance of understanding global perspectives.

She is currently a Professor and Department Chair of the Foundation Program at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, CA.

Mika Cho (Professor, ART/Director, Cal State LA Fine Arts Gallery) Dr. Mika Cho was appointed as Special Assistant to the President for Arts and the director of the Cal State LA Fine Arts Gallery in 2017. Prior to her appointment as the director of the Fine Arts Gallery she served as the chair of the Art Department. She is art educator, researcher, educational consultant, curator and visual artist, the last comprising numerous exhibitions at museums and galleries. Her research interests are in art-related and educational issues, which she shares through publications and extensive conference presentations nationally and internationally.

Getting Organized with Bookmaking at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

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We held our second  “We Write the Book” artist residency program at the Canoga Park Branch Library on August 19, 2023.

The series, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will offer 11 hands-on bookmaking workshops and a culmination event to the community free of charge, with all materials included

In the spirit of getting organized for the new academic year, I taught participants ranging from small children to seniors how to create an accordion-fold book with pockets, add covers, then sew in “signatures” (gatherings of folded pages), to make their books super organizing tools, with places to store notes, make notes, and take notes!

The series, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will offer 11 hands-on bookmaking workshops and a culmination event to the community free of charge, with all materials included!

Participants from children to teens to families to seniors learned how to create the accordion fold book structure and add pockets, then develop their books with a variety of decorative and print materials to make them their own.  A good time was had by all, as those attending learned new skills, socialized and inspired each other with their book creations!
Even the Librarians got into the act!

Children’s Librarian Luz and teen volunteer Scott supported participants while creating their own books!


Scott cuts lengths of beautiful striped and glittering paper cord for participants to use in sewing their signatures into the folds of their accordion structures.


Library volunteer Carmen and participant Laura move through the process.


Stellar participant Gina helps fellow student.


We were joined by an energetic family of five, helmed by this intrepid Mom!


Playing with color, textures, design and form are the nuts and bolts of the process. Participants made creative decisions and learned about themselves in the process, while gaining skills in folding, cutting, sewing and gluing.

We hope to see everhone back next month, at 12:00 noon on Saturday September 23rd!