Debra Disman

Artist

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Teaching Artist

“Be Part of the Story”: VAPA Students Make Books

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At a recent series of bookmaking workshops at Verdugo Hills High School, Visual and Performing Arts  (VAPA) students in VAPA Art and English classes learned to make their own books which they then shared with others in the school library, in  a singular exhibition and reading.

Thus we engaged visual, literary and performing/presentational art forms in a single four part series,.


“Be You”, an important message of the series.


Student artists set up their own books in the school library.


Then presented their works to an audience of other students, who had also participated in the program.


Some went up in pairs…(safety in numbers?),


While some braved it alone…


All expressed pride,


and absolute individuality.

I only wishg we had longer. It was incredibly fun, and gratifying to see these Visual Art and English students take off with the forms learned, and skills attained through the program.

Many thanks go out to Amanda  Swann, VAPA Coordinator and theater educator, Amy Lesserman VAPA English class teacher, Tina Staley, Art teacher, and Lisa Cheby, school librarian, who worked closely with me to make this experience happen.

Kudos and gratitudes!

“It’s About the Story”: VAPA Students Make Books

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At a recent series of bookmaking workshops at Verdugo Hills High School, Visual and Performing Arts  (VAPA) students in VAPA Art and English classes learned to make their own books which they then shared with others in the school library.

Below is a sampling of their stunning works…

 

The works speak for themselves, and were astonishing to see. With technical guidance, creative support and a bit of , students learned to create the versatile flag book structure, and then took off with it.

The (Clay)Work of Our Hands

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Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten students attend their last (for this session) clay class through the City of Santa Monica’s CREST Enrichment program…after school classes held at a variety of Public Elementary Schools in Santa Monica.

Next week, we paint!

I have taught the students the basics: Pinch, coil and slab techniques. They have created vessels, masks, animals, and more. During this class I demonstrated how to create a small plate, platter or candle holder that could be given as a gift for the holidays, and beyond.

And then, these talented tykes took off with their own ideas!


Small hands are developing the strength and dexterity to form rough balls of clay and roll out coils from them. Sometimes i help this age group along by breaking up clay (air dry in this case) into sections for them to work with.


This little artist with a big personality has really progressed in her coil making. She created a piece by putting together numerous tiny coils.


This young maker recently turned five, and is mastering the coil technique!


Almost there!


This piece is growing….


Mark making in the clay using various tools. These kids amaze me. She saw a brief demo and then just took off creating these textures and designs herself.

Our tools are sourced from simple household items…popsicle sticks, pencils, plastic cutlery, and wood clothespins and toothpicks do the job, and teach the students how the simplest object can be transformed into a tool that becomes and performs magic!

It has been magical to watch these students learn and grow,

Much talent abounds in them.

It is a joy to see, encourage and develop their skills and artistic voices, even, and especially, at this age!

“Tunneling through” at the Granada Hills Branch Library!

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It has been exciting to lead programs at the Granada Hills Branch Library of the LAPL, as part of  my Artist in Residency there:  “We Write the Book“, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, participants created multi-dimensional “Tunnel Books“, theatre-like structures comprised of a backdrop attached to an accordion-folded “spine” on either side.

Makers then added their own “cross-pieces” , cutting out strips in the shapes of mountains and more, and attaching them to the spines so that they traversed the width of the book, creating a place to add figures and other images to create their unfolding story, tableau or diorama.

As usual, attendees wowed with their use of color, shape and materials, imagination and creativity!


It is a materials world.


Families work together.
Attention to detail.


Making is an active sport.


Careful cutting.


Focus.


Sketching out the concept.


Use of feathers animate the image.


Majestic purple…


Showing off the completed book!


Creating a beautiful place to be.


Was this maker hungary? He created an ice-cream shop…


Fun use of materials.


Brilliant colors, black framing and carefully chosen use of select materials make this piece a stunner.

If you are in the area, join us for a  Winter Community Celebration at the Granada Hills Branch Library on December 19th from 1:30 – 5PM.

There will be “Envelope Bookmaking”, refreshments, sharing of works, and lots of fun!

 

Bell Library

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A simple post sharing about a simply lovely program I was privileged to lead at the Bell Library  one of the many fine Los Angeles County Libraries serving their patrons with devotion, commitment and love!

Parents, children and Library Staff participated. The wonderful Library provides programs every week, so if you are in their vicinity, please check them out and take advantage!

 


We had a beautiful creative group. Many participants knew each other, and had fun chatting during the program.


Mother and daughter duo, doing.


The younger brother in a family of four sibs, this young artist reveled in all of the materials, and the opportunity to create.


A beautiful soul creates a beautiful book, heartfelt.

Latinx Heritage Celebrated

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In our recent program at the Granada Hills Branch Library of the LAPL,   participants created accordion fold (also known as “concertina”…continuing with the musical instrument metaphor-) books.

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, they added images of Latinx art and architecture, including murals, street art, works shown in museums, and storefronts.

Participants spanned young children to seniors, with everyone becoming immediately absorbed in creating their books, and developing them with varied fascinating and colorful images of works created by an integral population of Los Angeles past, present and future.

The Virgin of Guadalupe was an inspiration.

Mother and son work together.

Participants transformed images by adding to and subtracting from them, and putting them together in new ways.

The focus of all ages…

Makers often choose to work with colors that reflect the colors they are wearing!

Pink, never gets old.

This workshop was part of my Artist in Residency project: “We Write the Book“, supported by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles.  Gratitudes!