Debra Disman

Artist

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Artists" Book

EXHIBITIONISTA: “In Tandem” at the Cape Cod Museum of Art

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I am thrilled to be participating in the exhibition, “In Tandem“, at the Cape Cod Museum of Art, with artist and collaborator Luciana Abait, through our  work, “drift”, a collaborative artist’ book which serves as a warning about environmental damage and ecological devastation.

For this year’s CCMoA International, Juried Exhibition, we asked artists to interpret the theme “In Tandem” in a visual work of art.
“In Tandem” may be defined as the process of 2 or more objects, mechanisms, people or concepts working in conjunction with each other to achieve a desired result.
The response was record-breaking with 283 artists from 30 states across the USA as well as from Canada, England and China submitting 424 artworks for this competition. Only 85 artworks were selected by juror. 3 of the artists will receive awards for their pieces during the Opening Reception and Gallery Talk on Friday, May 19, 2023.
 In Tandem is sponsored by Bob and Cathey Portrie.

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Friday, May 19, 2023
Gallery Talk with the Artists: 4pm – 5pm
Opening Reception: 5pm – 6:30pm
Free and open to the public • RSVPs appreciated!

CONCURRENCIES: Charlotte Salomon and Eva Hesse: The Visitors

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On June 25th, 2022 I held an open studio to share works created for my 2021-22 Santa Monica Artist Project Fellowship:

Charlotte Salomon and Eva Hesse: Genius, Trauma and the Invention of New Forms of Visual Art in Response to the Holocaust

Employing research, artistic production, public engagement, the project investigates, compares and links the lives and the groundbreaking work of Jewish women artists Charlotte Salomon and Eva Hesse on the basis of their shared experience of trauma and loss through the Jewish Holocaust, the remarkably similar intimate traumas of their families (both lost their mothers to suicide), their invention of new forms of visual art through which I posit they respond to and attempt to cope with these traumas,  their early deaths, and the emotional involvement of each with a charismatic and powerful male artist who proved to be influential, even pivotal in the development of their work and artistic/creative breakthroughs.

Themes of the project include being a woman artist, being a Jewish women artist, being an artist during or affected by a profoundly turbulent time in history, the relationship between internal and external turbulence and the creative act and the transformative power of the creative process:  the triumph of the imagination as opposed to the triumph of the will.

On a broader scale, the project examines, through these two geniuses, ways in which the creative process can transform traumatic pasts, and how trauma can elicit the creation of new forms, voices and materials that outlast their makers and continue to reverberate throughout the ages, inspiring posterity.

As part of my Fellowship project commitment, I created a series of works responding to these artists: their oeuvre, their lives, their concurrencies. I was thrilled to welcome friends, colleagues and students to share the works and say hello!  (All images by Steve Hankins Photography)

 




Thank you all, and thank you Steve Hankins, for your beautiful photography and capturing of the event.

CONCURRENCIES: Charlotte Salomon and Eva Hesse: The Works

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On June 25th, 2022 I held an open studio to share works created for my 2021-22 Santa Monica Artist Project Fellowship:

Charlotte Salomon and Eva Hesse: Genius, Trauma and the Invention of New Forms of Visual Art in Response to the Holocaust

Employing research, artistic production, public engagement, the project investigates, compares and links the lives and the groundbreaking work of Jewish women artists Charlotte Salomon and Eva Hesse on the basis of their shared experience of trauma and loss through the Jewish Holocaust, the remarkably similar intimate traumas of their families (both lost their mothers to suicide), their invention of new forms of visual art through which I posit they respond to and attempt to cope with these traumas,  their early deaths, and the emotional involvement of each with a charismatic and powerful male artist who proved to be influential, even pivotal in the development of their work and artistic/creative breakthroughs.

Themes of the project include being a woman artist, being a Jewish women artist, being an artist during or affected by a profoundly turbulent time in history, the relationship between internal and external turbulence and the creative act and the transformative power of the creative process:  the triumph of the imagination as opposed to the triumph of the will.

On a broader scale, the project examines, through these two geniuses, ways in which the creative process can transform traumatic pasts, and how trauma can elicit the creation of new forms, voices and materials that outlast their makers and continue to reverberate throughout the ages, inspiring posterity.

As part of my Fellowship project commitment, I created a series of works responding to these artists: their oeuvre, their lives, their concurrencies, some of which I share here: (All images by Steve Hankins Photography)

Working title: “Concurrencies I“, 2022, repurposed denim, linen thread, gold thread, hemp cord, varnish


Working title: “Concurrencies II“, begun, 2022 (unfinished), repurposed denim, linen thread, gold thread, varnish , to be developed


Working title, “Finally“, 2022, canvas, burlap, acrylic paint, hemp cord


Working title, “Finally“, 2022, canvas, burlap, acrylic paint, hemp cord, (details)


“I Can’t I Won’t I will I Do“, 2022, repurposed cotton table runner, hemp cord, acrylic paint


“It’s Not Black and White“, 2021, Bookboard, mulberry paper, repurposed typewriter tape, canvas, hemp cord, (exterior)


“It’s Not Black and White“, 2021, Bookboard, mulberry paper, repurposed typewriter tape, canvas, hemp cord, (exterior/interior)


“Forest Through The Trees“, 2021, bookboard, hemp cord, watercolor paper, acrylic paint, wood, canvas, repurposed typewriter tape, lace, (exterior)


“Forest Through The Trees“, 2021, bookboard, hemp cord, watercolor paper, acrylic paint, wood, canvas, repurposed typewriter tape, lace, (detail)


Working title: “Charlotte Salomon-Eva Hesse: Concurrencies“, 2022, repurposed family album, burlap, linen thread, collage/paper,  (exterior)

An Open Book

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When one book closes…another one opens…
or, something like that.

I was thrilled to be a part of the 2020 California Open Exhibition at TAG Gallery in LA.

“I like the ‘openness’ of the California Open concept,” said juror Kate Mothes, “so in my selections I tried to maintain a diversity of ideas and themes, and to the best of ability with the information at hand, include artists of diverse backgrounds. With this in mind, I also considered the craftsmanship of each work, and included a range of media types. It was a pleasure to review all of the submissions to this year’s open call, and I thank TAG Gallery for inviting me to participate as juror this year!”


“Falling“,  2019, 7″ x 24.5″ x 10.5”, mixed media (book board, mulberry paper, hemp cord, paperboard)


It sold.

Staying OPEN

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It is an honor to be participating in the 2020 CALIFORNIA OPEN Exhibition at TAG Gallery.
You can visit the show live and in-person by appointment:
TAG Gallery 5458 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
310.829.9556 | [email protected] | 11am -5pm, Tue-Sat

TAG Gallery is thrilled to share the 15th Annual 2020 CALIFORNIA OPEN  Exhibition, featuring unique art pieces from 99 artists from around the United States.

Juror Kate Mothes , accomplished founder of Young Space @yngspc and Dovetail Magazine @dovetail.mag thoughtfully selected nearly 1000 works submitted from our national call for art to assemble what is a uniquely incredible show.

She says,

“Much has already been written about the unprecedented time we find ourselves in,” explains juror Kate Mothes. “As I reviewed the submissions for the California Open, I had a raised awareness of the circumstances and time period during which much of the work had been made.”

“I like the ‘openness’ of the California Open concept,” continues Mothes, “so in my selections I tried to maintain a diversity of ideas and themes, and to the best of ability with the information at hand, include artists of diverse backgrounds. With this in mind, I also considered the craftsmanship of each work, and included a range of media types. It was a pleasure to review all of the submissions to this year’s open call, and I thank TAG Gallery for inviting me to participate as juror this year!”

View the 2020 California Open Exhibition  here!
ENJOY the Artist Chat:
Wednesday, September 23, 3pm – California Open 2020 Artist Chat via Zoom (sign up on Facebook required)

2020 CALIFORNIA OPEN PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

Troy Aiken, Norman Aragones, Sarah Arnold, Louis Balicki, Jenny Balisle, Michele Benzamin-Miki, Reiko Berg, Allegra Bick-Maurischat, Raydel Blanco, Alessia Bothorel, Nancy Byrnes, Julie Carcione Cavaz, Chung-Ping Cheng, Michael Chesler, Jonathan Crow, Laurie Curran, Jaren Dahlstrom, Debra Disman, Lee Dollison, Laurence Elias, Mims Ellis, Robert Esau, Mumtaz Essa, Astrid Francis, Rinaldo Frattolillo, Gail Glikmann, Aspen Golann, Leslie Goldenberg, Bart Goldman, Emily Gomez, Keri Haarhoff, Andy Hann, Debra Hintz, Gary Hong, Cathy Immordino, Federico Imperiale, Marta Jaremko, Joan Karp, Sassoon Kosian, Faina Kumpan, Esther Kwan, JJ L’Heureux, Julie La Rue, Bonnie Lambert, John Langdon, Michelene Laski, Tom Lasley, Nancy Goodman Lawrence, Nakyung Lee, Andrew Leventis, Roberta Levitow, Whitman Lindstrom, Janet Manalo, Don Manderson, Carmen Mardonez, Andrew Martin, Melissa McClellan, Janet Milhomme, Zachary Miller, Eliza Ann Mitchell, Joseph Moreno, Nelson Munares, Perola Navarro, Bryan Northup, Joe A. Oakes, Cara Park, James Parlin, Nora Pineda, Sherry Pollack Walker, Justin Prough, Manaz Raiszadeh, Michael Roy, Gigi Salij, David Shannon, Ashley Shellhause, Sam Shokati, Jen Solomon, Tianyi Sun, Emily Sunez, Pam Sutherland, Viviana Svidler, Ariel Swartley, Robin Tripaldi, Michael Usher, Paul Valadez, Crystal Vicars, Amy Vidra, Catherine Walker, Sheldon Walker, Emily Wallerstein, Eric Welch, Mira White, Debbie Wolf, Wendy Widell Wolff, Travis Worden, Miss Art World, Amy Wright, Shingo Yamazaki, Jim Zver

CALIFORNIA OPEN INFORMATION

NATIONAL SHOW: “Blackout”

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I am honored to have my piece, “Maximum Security”  included in Ashton Gallery @ Art on 30th contemporary Art Center and Gallery’s NATIONAL SHOW:

BLACKOUT

“Features the best pieces from all over the country that include the color black: seductive, powerful, elegant, formal, prestigious, and mysterious.”

Juror: Daniel Foster, 30-year career in arts & museum leadership in Southern California

Reception: Saturday, October 27th, 6pm–8pm
​Exhibit Dates: October 27th–November 17th

About the Juror: Daniel Foster has an extensive 30-year career in arts and museum leadership in San Diego and Southern California. He is the past Executive Director of the Oceanside Museum of Art (2012-15) and the Riverside Art Museum (2003-08), in addition to past positions with the San Diego Art Institute, UC San Diego Visual Arts Dept., San Francisco Art Institute, and the Headlands Center for the Arts.  Additionally, Foster founded and launched the North County Arts Network in 2014 and the Arts Council for San Bernardino County in 2012 (when he was the President/CEO of The Community Foundation).  Foster is a conceptual and multi-disciplinary visual artist and poet.