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Debra Disman

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ARTIST'S BOOKS

Story Time

June 6, 2018 By Debra Disman

 

Story Time: BedTime Story I

I am repeating a bit in this post, lingering in my Studio Residency and show of work at Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean in Santa Monica.

I showed a work titled “BedTime Story I“, featuring, or shall I say employing tiny masks; faces of clay, made by my Mother, the ceramicist  Judy Disman.

My Mom had made these tiny faces of clay expressly for me to use in and on my artists’ books, even making tiny holes in them so they could be sewed  into and onto the book structures and become integral to them.

The faces were a natural for a piece about “bed”,  and made the book into a more literal narrative then I had originally intended. I work fairly abstractly, though still in a loose book format, and the addition of representational elements changed the feeling of the piece. It could then be “read” more literally.

The faces even became interactive, with two of them contemplating each other.

Others became sentinels, gazing benevolently out from their “beds”.

Far from creating an image of sleep, the faces express the experience of being wide awake, perhaps listening to, creating, or becoming a story. A bed time story.

The faces become the actors in the story, played out through the pages of the book. Each viewer will read the story in their own way, and reach their own conclusions about it.

We may wonder what the beings or characters expressed or indicated by the faces are thinking, and if they are having sleepless nights. Perhaps they are worried under their smiling visages. Perhaps they are presenting to us a mask, and there are dreams and roiling emotions, even nightmares, underneath.

Perhaps formal, textural,  decorative, haptic or totemic qualities of the work will prevail for some. In any event, BedTime Story I was a pleasure to make.

Again, Mom, thank you for the collaboration, and for creating these tiny pieces for me.
It was great to work with you. Sweet dreams.

 

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, New Work, Work Tagged With: Accordion Fold, Art Work, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Artists' oo, Book Form, Books made by Hand, Ceramic Faces, Ceramics, Clay, Clay Masks, Cloth, Collaboration, Fabric, Handmade Books, HEMP CORD, Judy Disman, Mask, Sewing, Stitiching, Textiles

“Make Your Own Travel Journal at the Granada Hills Public Library!”

June 5, 2018 By Debra Disman

“Make Your Own Travel Journal at the Granada Hills Public Library!”

Learn to create an accordion fold book with pockets to hold your travel treasures!
Tickets, notes, keepsakes, photographs and memories, this book will be something you will want to keep forever to remember your travel adventures and experiences.

The Los Angeles Summer Reading Challenge  2018 theme is:
“Reading Takes You Everywhere”, so join us to read, make, discover and explore at the Granada Hills Branch Library.

All ages welcome, all materials provided.

This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs  (DCA)

 

 

Tagged With: "Reading Takes You Everywhere", Accordion Book, Accordion Book with Pockets, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Books made by Hand, Community Artmaking, Concertina Book, Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles, Granada Hills Library, Handmade Books, Los Angeles Public Library, Travel Journal

NEW WORKS Show at 1450 Ocean

May 31, 2018 By Debra Disman

NEW WORKS Show at 1450 Ocean

April 14, 2018.

Textile artist Huong Nguyen and I shared our work with the Public at the Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean in Santa Monica.

It was a wonderful round-up of our Studio Residency activities which took place January through April, 2018.

This post is a “send-off” of sorts to the Residency, which had a profound impact upon me, my work, and Life. Thank you, 1450 Ocean….

A tour around the Studio, as we prepare for our Show.

The spaciousness of space…tables for materials, and visual reminders, inspirations and cues.


The “spinning book” moved around.


Beautiful light off the Ocean flooded the glassed-in Studio.


I finished, if there is such a thing, filling my “sketch” book here.


“Rapunzel“, Book board,  mulberry paper, linen thread, gold thread, untreated canvas; “Window Treatment“, Book board,  file folders, hemp cord, watercolor paper, mulberry paper, acrylic paint, waxes.


“The Fall“, Board, untreated canvas, hemp cord, watercolor paper, mulberry paper.


“Throes of the Body“, Book board, untreated canvas, hemp cord, watercolor paper, mulberry paper.


“In the Profusion“, Book board, untreated canvas, hemp cord, watercolor paper, mulberry paper.


“Burning Bush“, Board, thread, linen thread, dental floss, mulberry paper.


“BedTime Story I”, Book board, wood, fabric, hemp cord, watercolor paper, incorporating tiny ceramic “masks, made by my Mom, the ceramicist Judy Disman.
Mom, it was great to work with you.

Pathways to the next Thing.
We are Travelers.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, New Work, Teaching Artist, Work Tagged With: 1450 Ocean, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Artst in residence, EXHBITION, Huong Nguyen, Judy Disman, Residency Show, SANTA MONICA, Sculptural Books, Show, Studio Residency, The Camera Obscura Art lab at 1450 Ocean

In Resonant Residence (14)

May 9, 2018 By Debra Disman

In Resonant Residence (14)

I formally began Studio Residency at the Camera Obscura Art Lab

in Santa Monica Wednesday January 10th, and completed it Saturday, April 21, 2018.  I shared the sunlit space, located within a beautiful Mid-century building overlooking Palisades Park, Santa Monica Beach and the blue Pacific with textile artist and fellow Studio Artist-in-Residence Huong Nguyen.
“About the Art Lab and Camera Obscura

1450 Exterior
Vintage Camera Obscura
 
 
 
 
Step inside the Camera Obscura Art Lab and you’ll find a welcoming space with fantastic views of Santa Monica Bay and the Pier. The Camera is located in a midcentury time capsule in Palisades Park between Broadway and Santa Monica Blvd on what was once the site of the Pacific Electric Railway’s North Beach Station. Designed by noted architect Weldon J. Fulton (who’s work can be found around town including the classic Camera Obscura sign and font, the Montana and Fairview branch libraries, and the former Zucky’s building on Wilshire Blvd), the building’s exterior features walls clad in chunky Palos Verdes stone, glass walls, sloping roofs, and projecting canopies and rafter beams. It was donated to the City of Santa Monica by Marcellus Joslyn in 1955.”

The huge studio windows look out on palms, walkways and a huge assortment of passers by, strollers, park wanderers and beach combers. The Studio is a magical place to work.

My thirteenth workshop, April 7, 2018, Creating Sculptural Books offered participants an opportunity to walk a bit on the wilder side, and create something new while learning some skills in the process.

We began by constructing what I call the “fan book” structure…an accordion folded spine, with front and back covers, and pages added to the same side of each fold.

It is a version of the flag book, invented by renowned book artist Hedi Kyle, but employs full-sized pages that fan out from the spine in the same direction, rather then the zig zig alternating pattern of the endlessly inventive flag book.

Then folks added to that structure, used it as a jumping off point if you will.

Others focused more specifically on embellishment…this was the way “in” for them.

Book artist Rachel Curry made a big “traditional” flag book, and adorned it with patterns using paint pens.

Step-by-step into new territory, in a safe space.

Ingredients for discovery.

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: 1450 Ocean, Accordion Fold, ACCORDION SPINE, Art Lab, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Book Structures, Bookmaking, Books and Architecture, Camera Obscura, Community Arts, Concertina Spine, Fan Book, Flag Book, Folded Books, Folded Fan Book, Hedi Kyle, Pacific Palisades Park, SANTA MONICA, Santa Monica Beach, Sculptural Books, Stamping, Studio Residency at Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean, Teaching Artist

In Resonant Residence (13)

May 9, 2018 By Debra Disman

In Resonant Residence (13)

I formally began Studio Residency at the Camera Obscura Art Lab

in Santa Monica Wednesday January 10th, and completed it Saturday, April 21, 2018.  I shared the sunlit space, located within a beautiful Mid-century building overlooking Palisades Park, Santa Monica Beach and the blue Pacific with textile artist and fellow Studio Artist-in-Residence Huong Nguyen.
“About the Art Lab and Camera Obscura

1450 Exterior
Vintage Camera Obscura
 
 
 
 
Step inside the Camera Obscura Art Lab and you’ll find a welcoming space with fantastic views of Santa Monica Bay and the Pier. The Camera is located in a midcentury time capsule in Palisades Park between Broadway and Santa Monica Blvd on what was once the site of the Pacific Electric Railway’s North Beach Station. Designed by noted architect Weldon J. Fulton (who’s work can be found around town including the classic Camera Obscura sign and font, the Montana and Fairview branch libraries, and the former Zucky’s building on Wilshire Blvd), the building’s exterior features walls clad in chunky Palos Verdes stone, glass walls, sloping roofs, and projecting canopies and rafter beams. It was donated to the City of Santa Monica by Marcellus Joslyn in 1955.”

The huge studio windows look out on palms, walkways and a huge assortment of passers by, strollers, park wanderers and beach combers. The Studio is a magical place to work.

My twelfth workshop, March 24 2018: Double Flower Fold Book had participants folding forms and attaching them into a chain that folded up into a book that could nestle in your hand. But..when it opened…well, you can see what another name for this structure is “Exploding Book”!


The all-important process of choosing materials!


Folding repeating forms,


and slipping one into the next to create a chain.


Then come the covers…


and their content.


A line-up of family, working together, but on their own things.


Opening up to color.


Her own thing; a little “suit coat’ charmer that opens up into something deeper.


Cool colors, taking her cue form the sea and sky outside?


Development and embellishment and


delight…

It is the journey. I am so glad to have taken it with them, and You.

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: 1450 Ocean, Altered Pages, Art Lab, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Book Structures, Bookmaking, Camera Obscura, Community Artmaking, Community Arts, Community Arts Workshop, Double Flower Fold Book, Exploding Book, Folded Books, Pacific Palisades Park, Santa Monica Beach, Stenciling, Studio Residency at Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean, Teaching Artist

LACMA LOVE: We Make Books

May 3, 2018 By Debra Disman

LACMA LOVE: We Make Books

At the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), families made books together.

This past March and April, we gathered together and learned how to create the Accordion or Concertina Fold, Folded Fan and  Tunnel Book  structures.

And we had FUN!


Learning to fold the accordion book. There is a step by step process!


Then comes the reward…embellishment!


This young maker know exactly what she wants.


Using decorative papers galore, textures, colors, patterns and shapes are explored and employed.


Pink and blue…must be Spring.


A large group convened to create the “folded fan” book, a version of the flag book, with full-sized pages attached to just one side of the accordion-folded book spine.


Parents had the opportunity to create alongside their children, and also do their own thing.


Makers used stickers, origami papers, washi tapes, magazines and more to dive into the meaning and content of their books.


Bookmaking can engage all kinds of skills, such as writing (and the requisite spelling and grammar),


intricate cutting,


and gluing.


Making books can be the ultimate mixed media experience. Fabric, string, feathers, and just about anything can get into the act, serving at the behest of the maker, and adding layers of meaning.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Artists' Books, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: ACCORDION FOLD BOOKS, Accordion fold spine, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Book Strucutres, Books made by Hand, Community Artmaking, Community Arts, Concertina Books, Concertina Spine, Family Art Classes, FAMILY ARTMAKING, Flag Books, Folded Fan Books, Handmade Books, LACMA, LACMA Education Department, LACMA Family Class, THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART

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