Work

Exhibitionista: “The Artful Book” xxxooo

October 7, 2019 By Debra Disman

The Artful Book Exhibition just opened at The Long Beach Museum of Art.

It is an exciting exhibition that among other things aims also to educate the public about the nature and role and diversity of book arts in the present day.

Tour the exhibition!

The video provides a fascinating glimpse into the displayed works. One of the challenges of showing work that is in book form is how to share all its surfaces, spaces, elements and facets. Most of the works in the show are under cases. One is accompanied by a pair of white gloves for viewers to don and turn its pages. One hangs from the ceiling, and others are on the wall.

My beloved Mark Henry Samuel, enjoying a well-deserved moment, after an intense drive through Friday night rush our traffic from Santa Monica to Long Beach. What a gorgeous night!

Wonderful to see mentor, colleague, teach and friend, Sue Ann Robinson, Curator Emerita of the LBMA, and devoted member of the California Chapter of the Guild of BookWorkers

Love this broadside by Jean Gillingwators.

Sue Ann’s great work Chisholm Hours.

Great to see Andres Payan Estrada, Curator of Public Engagement at the LA jewel, Craft Contemporary.

Proud to show and share my work in this beautiful venue alongside wondrous artists and makers and lovers of the Book,
in all its forms.

Gratitudes.

Exhibitionista: on “Brand”

October 3, 2019 By Debra Disman

So thrilled to be part of the Brand Library and Art Center‘s Brand 47 Works On Paper show, current iteration of this concept.

Juried by Alma Ruiz, former curator at MOCA.

I showed Burning Bush, 2018, 7.5 x 11 x 5.5″, board, sewing thread, mulberry paper, linen thread

Gratitudes.

Exhibitionista: “All Stitched up” with everywhere to go…

September 26, 2019 By Debra Disman

Thank you to my sister Susan, for attending the opening of the “All Stitched Up” show in the Collins Library at the University of Puget Sound, on September 14th. Too far for me to travel in this moment, especially as were driving back from the Bay Area at that time!

“To stitch is to join together, to mend, or fasten as with stitches – to sew. To stitch is to bring together fabric, paper, wounds of the body, or cultural divides. Stitching can be an act of healing, hope, practicality, creativity, and revolution. All Stitched Up recognizes and celebrates the work of book artists’ where stitching has become an integral part of the visual design.” — Curators Catherine Alice Michaelis, Jane A. Carlin, and Diana Weymar

Susan took some great pictures, which is critical, as artist books, indeed, any kind of book, is challenging to display, being composed of so many different parts, all of which cannot be seen at the same time. Such is the magic and mystery of this old technology, the book.

Judging from this shelf, the show was themed in different ways, including color and materials.

Hey Susan…thank you! (Great haircut too…)

Susan even took a shot of my page in the catalog. Cool! I ordered the catalog, a great effort put together by Curator Catherine Alice Michaelis. Great way to support the show and celebrate the works it brought together.

Gratitudes!

Sharing Shows: ARTISTS WHO TEACH

September 18, 2019 By Debra Disman

I am excited and honored to be included in a number of current and upcoming shows across the US, and will be sharing about them in blog form, as well as in the EVENTS section of my website, as a way of further describing and chronicling my practice, honoring colleagues, and sharing gratitude for these opportunities and the people, organizations and institutions that make them happen.

I am thrilled to be a part of:

ARTISTS WHO TEACH

A National Juried Exhibition Celebrating Visual Art Educators. This exhibition presented at several sites and includes lectures, workshops and events celebrating art educators.

Presented at:

Ellington-White Contemporary 113 Gillespie Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301
and
Fayetteville State University Rosenthal Art Gallery

September 14 – November 2, 2019

National Art Education Week is September 8 – 14th

As part of an ongoing commitment to promote the visual arts. Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery (EWCG) showcases the arts as an essential part of a complete education, whether in home, school, or community. Students of all ages—from kindergarten to college to creative aging programs—benefit from artistic learning, innovative thinking, and creativity.

Celebrating National Arts in Education Week with this national exhibition is a way to recognize the impact of visual arts and share the message “that the Arts matter” with friends, family, and communities. During this week, the field of arts education joins together in communities across the country to tell the story of the impact of the transformative power of the arts in education. Celebrating National Arts in Education Week with this national exhibition is a way to recognize the impact of the visual arts and share the message “that the Arts matter” .

Through this exhibition, Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery celebrates, advocates, and brings attention to the cause of art education.

Here here!

I am showing “WINDOW TREATMENT“
2018
Sculptural Artists Book / mixed media: book board, file folders, hemp cord, assorted papers and cardstock, paint, wax

The piece is comprised of an accordion spine, front and back covers, and “flag” pocket pages through which cords are sewn, stitched, and threaded. The surfaces have been textured with torn and crushed papers, painted, and waxed.

Front Cover Exterior, closed

Interior, open

Exterior, open

“Offal” is not so Awful

September 5, 2019 By Debra Disman

I am thrilled to be included in the current exhibition at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, OFFAL

https://www.lamag.org/portfolio_page/offal/

Thank you Steven Wong, Curator, for putting this together.

Thank you Brianna Bakke, Assistant Curator, for your writing.

And, thank you to the whole curatorial and installation staff and any volunteers, for creating such a beautiful, immersive display of all the works. “Throes of the Body” has never been lit like this before, and it made all the difference.

The detail of the piece could really be seen,

and made accessible to the viewers.

Gratitudes!

Sharing Shows 5: “THE ARTFUL BOOK”

July 31, 2019 By Debra Disman

“The Artful Book”
California Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers Member Exhibit
Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA

The Artful Book
October 4, 2019 – January 5, 2020
“Today, artists who work in the Book Arts create fine and design bindings, fine press and letterpress editions, calligraphy, broadsides, handmade paper, and artist books. Visitors to The Artful Book will see outstanding contemporary examples of the Book Arts created by members of the California Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers. From finely crafted and superbly designed limited edition books to one-of-a-kind sculptural art objects, these artists let their imaginations soar and put their skills in the service of one of man’s best creations, the book. The Artful Book exhibition and related programming are made possible by lead support from The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation with additional generous support from the Bess J. Hodges Foundation.”

I will be showing three pieces:

Profusion
2018
8.75″ x 24.5″ x 7.75″
Bookboard, canvas, hemp cord, mulberry paper

In The Thicket of It
2018
18″ x 30″ x 23″
Book board, canvas, acrylic paint, hemp cord, mulberry paper, wood

Falling
2019
11″ x 23″ x 7.5″
Bookboard, canvas, hemp cord, mulberry paper

The Long Beach Museum of Art is a wondrous place by the sea..with a beautiful garden featuring a water sculpture by Claire Falkenstein Structure and Flow.

See you there!