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Debra Disman

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AIR

“Tunneling through” at the Granada Hills Branch Library!

November 16, 2018 By Debra Disman

 

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!

 

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: AIR, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, Artist Residency The Granada Hills Library, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Books made by Hand, Community Artmaking, DCA, Family Bookmaking, Granada Hills Library, Handmade Books, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, native American heritage Month, Three-dimnsional Books, TUNNEL BOOK

“We Right The Book” VI

January 3, 2018 By Debra Disman

“We Right The Book” VI

I was honored to serve as Artist in Residence at Verdugo Hill High School in Tujunga,  CA (Los Angeles) for a group of 41 Senior English class Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) students.

Our project ,  “We Right the Book” was supported by an Artist in Residence grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.  I worked with the students on a series of bookmaking projects during weekly workshops held right in the classroom from September – December, 2017.

The students’ completed book works were exhibited at the Sunland-Tujunga Branch Library on December 13, 2017.
Accordion fold books, flag books, tunnel books, scrolls, and side bound books…the results were stunning.
Below is a digital tour through the show.

Each student’s works were displayed together, except the scrolls, which were hung on the walls.

Students created extraordinary Tunnel Books with whimsical, innovative and imaginative use of materials.

They made Flag Books…with “Found” (collected from existing print media) Writing.

and Accordion Fold Books…

with elaborate pop-ups.

The students completed their final projects for the class in their side bound books…the theme: IDENTITY…Who they are…Where they want to go…How they see themselves.

A Junior VAPA English student peruses the side bound books. She looked at each and every one.

I would love to work with her next year!

Fingers Crossed for next year’s Residency!
Thank you, LA DCA.

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: ACCORDION FOLD BOOKS, AIR, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, ARTIST'S BOOKS, BOOK WORKS, Bookmaking, CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, Community Artmaking, COMMUNITY BOOKMAKING, DCA, EXHBITION, Flag Books, HANDBOUND BOOKS, Handmade Books, HIGH SCHOOL VAPA STUDENTS, ONE-OF-A-KIND HANDMADE BOOKS, Scrolls, SIDE BOUND BOOKS, STUDENT ARTIST ASSISTANTS, SUNLAND-TUJUNGA BRANCH LIBRARY, Teaching Artist, Tunnel Books, Verdugo Hills High School

“We Right the Book” An Exhibit of Handmade Books

December 5, 2017 By Debra Disman

Join Us To Celebrate The Creative Book Works of Verdugo Hills High School VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) Students Led By Artist-in-Residence Debra Disman.

Readings and presentations at 6PM.
Refreshments will be served in the Community Room!

Tagged With: AIR, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, DCA, Handmade Books, Sunland-Tujunga Library, Teaching Artist, VAPA, Verdugo Hills High School, Visual and Performing Arts Students

“We Right The Book” I

October 25, 2017 By Debra Disman

“We Right The Book” I

I am honored to serve as Artist in Residence at Verdugo Hill High School in Tujunga,  CA (Los Angeles) for a group of 42 Senior English class Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) students.

Our project is entitled, “We Right the Book“, and is supported by an Artist in residence grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.  I am working with the students on a series of bookmaking projects during weekly workshops held right in the classroom from September – December, 2017. The students are also assisting with bookmaking workshops held for the community at-large in the Sunland-Tujunga Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library.

The project is designed to offer participating students an outlet for feelings, thoughts, hopes and dreams related to their upcoming transition out of high school, and into the next epoch of their lives.

We started with the basics: Accordion Fold Books, created from folding equidistant sections of material. We used “bright tagboard” for the folded pages, and assorted posterboard and railroad board for the covers.

An industrious maker adds tiny butterflies to the cover of her book.

A writer!

Tiny pieces of text work together to form the title…the piece is held closed with hemp cord.

Choosing a length of cord to enhance book.

Angelica layers materials into her folded page.

We have a wonderful group of boys in the class…talented and detailed makers!

Two girls work together (upper left of image)  making the most of materials, space and each other!

Working with letters, and seeing/absorbing their visual quality.

He is able to let others into his world through the book.

Paper world…

Our wonderful VAPA English classroom teacher, Amy Leserman.

Now that we have learned the basics of accordion folding, it is time to move into the fun and versatile Flag Book structure!
Stay tuned for “We Right The Book” II

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, Teaching Artist Tagged With: Accordion Fold Book, ACCORDION FOLD BOOKS, AIR, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, Bookmaking, BRIGHT TAG, CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, COLOR, Flag Book, FLAG BOOKMAKING, Handmade Books, HEMP CORD, HIGH SCHOOL VAPA STUDENTS, HYGLOSS BRIGHT TAG PAPER, ONE-OF-A-KIND HANDMADE BOOKS, POP-UPS, RAILROAD BOARD, Teaching Artist, Verdugo Hills High School, VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM (VAPA)

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