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Debra Disman

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ARTIST'S BOOKS

NEW WORK in 2021: Red Notebook (“Here’s To The Red, White and Blue”)

November 15, 2021 By Debra Disman

I was happy to finally be able to have Elon Schoenholz Photography in to photographs works completed/created during 2021, which continues to race by.

Part of an ensemble, suite, or installation of works entitled, “Here’s To The Red, White and Blue”, Red Notebook is structured as a “traditional” codex, with covers that open and pages that turn.  Moderately, “red” (hence the “red” element of the “Red, White and Blue” theme-meme-trope?) it contains a great deal of black as well.
In the immortal words of  Mark Rothko, “There is only one thing I fear in life, my friend;  One day, the black will swallow the red.”

Made from a repurposed placemat, hemp cord, linen thread, canvas, and lace, it is 8.5″ high, 12.5″ when opened in full, and 6.5″ at greatest depth and opens left to right, from cover through pages to cover, bound together through a single signature.


The red and back play off each other in all their associations


Sewing, stitching, gluing, knotting, coiling, massing


Amassing, accumulation, the RED in


Up next.

Filed Under: ARTISTS, Artists' Books, BOOKS, New Work, Work Tagged With: 2021 Work, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Black, Book as Art, Codex, Coil, COLOR, Conceptual Book, Conceptual Works, Constructions, Contemporary Artist, Covers, Elon Schoenholz Photography, Fiber, HEMP CORD, Los Angles Artists, Mark Rothko, Mixed media, New Work, Pages, Red, Rothko, Sculpture, SIGNATURE, SINGLE SIGNATURE BOOK, Spiral, Stitch, Stitching, Textiles, Three-dimensional works, White and Blue, Work

LIMINAL: The Book

November 5, 2021 By Debra Disman

I was thrilled to be included in  the exhibition LIMINAL, at Verum Ultimum Gallery in which artists were invited to explore the theme of liminality in any interpretation, media and form of visual art.

“Liminal is the space between. What significance does transition (or the “space between“) have in your work or your artistic voice? Does your work reflect the liminal aspects of our pandemic-impacted world and the adaptation to a post pandemic existence? Does your work represent and or challenge the threshold to a more equitable society? Or, perhaps it reflects a vehicle for expression through pure abstraction.” Curator Jennifer Gillia Cutshall

As with all Verum Ultimum’s calls for art, the curator never seeks to drive the work, the only hope is to unveil unique visions. All mediums and modes of expression have been welcomed from low brow, pop surrealism, realism, abstraction, and more. The term Liminal may be interpreted in many ways, and is not necessarily meant to be a literal elucidation.

Liminal is defined as
1. relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process.
2. occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold.

​One could argue that artists are conditioned to occupy the liminal state. And a successful studio is a space in flux, poised for adaptation (to projects, challenges, and materials). The focus of the artist is the creative process or the place between the 2 boundaries of “the beginning” and “the outcome or result.”

A gallery benefits from maintaining that liminal state, too (adaptation is a constant).

Verum Ultimum is celebrating it’s eighth year and this exhibition served to herald the artists unique vision…especially during these challenging times!

View the LIMINAL Exhibition

Read LIMINAL Artist Insights

Please see the LIMINAL Exhibition Book


Above: Curator and Verum Ultimum Gallery Founder, Jennifer Gillia Cutshall‘s LIMINAL exhibition statement.


Pictured above is my work in the show:   The Gates, (interior), 2019, 7.5 x 20 x 10.25”, mixed media/sculptural artists’ book.

View the Show!!!

Filed Under: ARTISTS, Artists' Books, BOOKS, Exhibitions, Work Tagged With: ARTIST'S BOOKS, Book as Sculpture, Catalog, Exhibition Book, Exhibition Catalogue, Exhibitions, Jennifer Gillia Cutshall, Liminal, LIMINAL exhibition, Liminality, Linimality, Portland Art Galleries, Verum Ultimum Art Gallery

Celebrating Día de Muertos with Papel Picado!

October 29, 2021 By Debra Disman

In celebration of  Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), I led a bookmaking workshop that featured Papel Picado (The art and craft of decorative cut paper) as part of my artist residency in bookmaking  at the the Panorama City Branch Library, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Participants learned the Accordion Fold  technique, and used it to create 11″ high  Accordion Fold Books.

They then created simple Papel Picado  designs, exploring paper cutting techniques using tissue paper sheets, and added these  colorful (or black-) works to our books in various ways.

All of the techniques and materials demonstrated online, through Zoom.

The participants were adventurous, good-humored, and supportive of each other as they moved through the process, and created the  beautiful works pictured below.

BRAVO!

This is truly teaching artistry, and learning,  for the 21st Century!

 


Using the simplest techniques, participants used color and cutting to create wondrous designs, which they layered onto to and into their Accordion Fold Books.


Paper cutting using the thin sheets of tissue paper can be demanding under the best of circumstances,. I marveled at what our participants were able to accomplish guided by an online workshop!


Here, black tissue paper is employed to magical and mysterious effect.


Participants also used origami paper to create their Papel Picado designs.


Participants joined the workshop from Arizona, Montreal, and across Los Angeles County, some with grandchildren, demonstrating the potential of the internet and its global reach.


Photographing through a computer screen can be challenging, but the brilliance of these colors and repeated cut-out designs cannot be denied!

Filed Under: Artists' Books, BOOKS, Presentations, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: "We Write The Book", Accordion Binding, Accordion Book, Accordion Fold, Accordion Fold Book, AIR Program, All purpose book!, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Bookmaking online, Books made by Hand, Branch Libraries, CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, Día de Muertos, Fall Holidays, Handmade Books, LA Department of Cultural Affairs, LAPL, latin American Folk Arts, Library Programs, Los Angeles Public Library System, Make Your Own Journal, Making Art through Zoom, Mexican Folk Arts, Online Art programs, Online Art Workshops, Online Bookmaking Programs, Online bookmaking workshops, Online Library Programs, Panorama City Branch Library, Papel Picado, paper Cits, Paper Cutting, Paper Engineering, The Art of paper Cutting, Zoom

“CRAFTING MEMORIES”

October 11, 2021 By Debra Disman

“Crafting Memories: An Online Bookmaking Workshop Series is specifically designed by Craft Contemporary and artist Debra Disman for adults over the age of 55. This program is made possible by funding from Aroha Philanthropies and is part of a nationwide campaign to bring thoughtful and specialized programs to a valuable population that is often undeserved by arts institutions. 

For this special program, participants learned a variety of basic and experimental bookmaking techniques used to tell their own stories through materials and the handmade. The goal of this workshop series was to create a space to explore our stories through book forms and to express our creativity by bringing together an extensive number of materials, mementos, and memories collected through our lives.”

It has been my great joy to teach the AROHA Bookmaking classes for Seniors through Craft Contemporary. I have been so moved to hear and see our participants’ stories expressed through their book projects, and to witness their extraordinary creativity with materials, expression, and craft. The opportunity for these students to come together, share about their lives, and weave their personal histories into their projects has been so meaningful, not only for the students, but for myself and the Craft Contemporary Staff. I have been continually amazed at the richness and depth of our participants’ life experiences and their hunger to share them with others.

See the fabulous website page on the Craft Contemporary website featuring the amazing works of our talented participants HERE!

See their handmade books and read about what gathering online to learn new skills and create together meant to each of them!

You won’t forget your visit!

Filed Under: Artists' Books, BOOKS, Presentations, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: Adults over age 55, Aging and Creativity, Andres Payan, Andres Payan Estrada, Aroha Philanthropies, Art Programs for Seniors, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Bookmaking, Bookmaking online, Craft Contemporary, Craft Contemporary Museum, Creative Aging, Distance learning, Handmade Books, Older Adults, Online Art programs, Online learning, Russ Haan, Seniors, Suzanne Iksen, Teaching Artist, Teaching Artists, Vitlity Arts

Tunneling Through: Tunnel Bookmaking with the Panorama City Branch Library!

October 5, 2021 By Debra Disman

Through my Artist Residency with the Los Angles Department of Cultural Affairs Artist in Residence   I had the opportunity to offer an online program/workshop via the Panorama Branch Library of the Los Angeles Public Library in which participants learned how to make “Tunnel Books“, and thus how to create their own three-dimensional stories!

Participants learned the accordion fold technique, and how to attach a background/backdrop sheet, and connective strips to create their books, reminiscent of a diorama, or stage. They then went to down developing their stories or scenes, learning a bit of pop-up magic in the process.

 

One motivated participant motivated by opera remade her book after the program, and emailed these images to share with us!

We look forward to more inspiring, educational, creative and FUN online bookmaking programs presented through the Panorama City Branch Library!

All workshops, programs, classes and events will be listed HERE!

Stay tuned, and join us!

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, BOOKS, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: AIR Program, All purpose book!, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Bookmaking online, Books made by Hand, Branch Libraries, Handmade Books, LA Department of Cultural Affairs, LAPL, Library Programs, Los Angeles Public Library System, Make Your Own Journal, Online Art programs, Online Bookmaking Programs, Online Library Programs, Panorama City Branch Library, Paper Engineering, Pop-Up, Pop-up Books, POP-UPS, Theater Books, Theatrical Books, Three-d story, Three-dimensional Story, Tunnel Bookmaking, Tunnel Books

We Invited the Community to “Make Your Own Journal” at the Panorama City Branch Library, And They Did!

September 28, 2021 By Debra Disman

Through my Artist Residency with the Los Angles Department of Cultural Affairs Artist in Residence   I had the opportunity to offer a program/workshop via the Panorama Branch Library of the Los Angeles Public Library in which participants created  “single signature” bound books they could use for writing, drawing, note-keeping, poetry, homework, lists, photographs, recipes and more!


People of all ages were welcomed into the program, creating books that reflected their interests, their needs, and their feelings.

Some books were focused on theme and utility, others on design, color, texture and shapes.
All expressed the makers and served as a form of sharing with the group as well.

We look forward to more!

All workshops, programs, classes and events will be listed HERE!

Stay tuned, and join us!

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, BOOKS, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: AIR Program, All purpose book!, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Bookmaking online, Books made by Hand, Branch Libraries, Handmade Books, Handmade Journal, Journal, Journal-making, LA Department of Cultural Affairs, LAPL, Library Programs, Los Angeles Public Library System, Make Your Own Journal, Online Art programs, Online Bookmaking Programs, Online Library Programs, Panorama City Branch Library, Sewn Books, SINGLE SIGNATURE, Single Signature Books

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