Debra Disman

Artist

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Artist Residency Culmination

“We Write The Book” CULMINATION EVENT at the Northridge Library!

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 It was both moving and thrilling to complete my 2024-25 Artist Residency at the beautiful Northridge Branch Library .

This Neighborhood Engagment Artist Residency has been supported by the wonderful City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

I have been honored to serve as  artist-in-residence at the Northridge Branch Library, conducting bookmaking workshops and events for the local community and library patronage from February through May 31, 2025, on selected Wednesday afternoons, 3:30-5:00PM, and Saturdays 11:00am – 12:30PM

Our workshops have been completely free to community with  all materials and refreshments included, supported by the  City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Attended by participants of all ages including families, I was thrilled to see the explosively colorful and exciting projects our participants created, and their joy in working in community. many of our participants have attended multiple workshops, and some of them have attended all of the bookmaking programs!

During our CULMINATION, participants shared and read from their handmade books, enjoyed refreshments, created a mini-travel journal and learned how do the “Turkish Map Fold” which they could then add to their books!
Turkish Map Fold incorporated into mini-travel journal!


Families enjoy bookmaking together, a blend of generations!


Participants help other participants.


Renata shares one of her amazing books!


A young boy’s dream, and I think we can see what it is!


Such a pleasure to see Ardem Tajerian again, with who I worked on my first Neighborhood Engagment Artist Residency supported by the  City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs back in 2017!


A table of committed bookmakers!


The work and the results.


Maps to add to the travel journal, ready for summer adventures!


It is never too  young to start bookmaking!


A first-time participant who joined our CULMINATION!


Creatively working hands create books.


Library staff get into the creative act.


Extraordinary book works created and shown…shared with the attending community by the participating artists who made them.


Materials galore!


Process yields results.

 
Outside

Inside


Tunnel Bookmaking taken to the max!


Words not to be forgotten…


Honoring women artists in celebration of International Women’s Day and Womens History Month, March 2025

  


An incredible expression of love and committment expressed through bookmaking for a ten-year anniversary, and shared during our “We Write the Book” CULMINATION event!

It was hard to say goodbye. We hope to see everyone in the FALL!

Thank you to  the incredible City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the  fantastic Northridge Branch Library for this amazing and deeply fulfilling experience.  Thank you for allowing me to teach, share my knowledge and love of the community and books, and work together to bring together so  many beautiful souls.

Until the next!!!

Getting Ready for the Holidays at the Canoga 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 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 November 18th community participants gathered to create a recipe book for the holidays and beyond. They learned how to sew a single signature (gathering of folded pages) together using the three hole  pamphlet stitch, then had the option of adding envelopes to hold treasured recipes! Decorative papers, fabric trims, stickers, markers, postcards and more were also available to use as embellishment and development of their book works.

Participants across generations created beautiful and fun books, with encouragement to keep working on them over time, and adding more recipes!

 

 

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!

“We Write The Book” Artist Residency Begins at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

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We “kicked off” our “We Write the Book” artist residency at the Canoga Park Branch Library on July 18, 2023 with an accordion-fold book workshop (“Program” in library parlance)!
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!

 

“We Write the Book” Artist Residency: Goodbye and Hello

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It is bittersweet to complete my third year as Artist-in-Residence for the West Valley Regional Branch Library supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs!
Our “We Write the Book” series offered hands-on bookmaking workshops and culmination event for over 171 intergenerational  participants from a variety of backgrounds from July of 2022 through June of 2023.

View a slideshow video of our projects here!

See what participants have to say here!

I am thrilled to begin a new year-long residency at the Canoga Park Branch Library July 18th, 2023!  Our new “We Write the Book” program will run through June 2023, and offer hands-on bookmaking workshops on a monthly basis to the public.

Our next workshop will be August 19th at noon.

So, goodbye to West Valley, and hello to Canoga Park. We invite You to Join us for fun, learning, community, creativity and self-expression!

 

Artist Residency Culminating Event at the West Valley Regional Branch Library!

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Celebrating our year long  “We Write the Book” artist residency at the West Valley Regional Branch Library, supported by The Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs!

Enjoy the ride. We did!