Debra Disman

Artist

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Bookmaking

In Resonant Residence (4)

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In Resonant Residence (4)

I formally began Studio Residency at the Camera Obscura Art Lab

in Santa Monica Wednesday January 10th.  I share the sunlit space, located within the 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.

Magical, material world…

Gatherings of ideas and materials…in a book.

Beginning “Throes of the Body”…sculptural book …or… sculpture in book form.

Book board, mulberry paper, watercolor paper, canvas, acid-free archival PVA-polyvinyl adhesive.

Resurfacing…

Holding the shape of the accordion folded spine.

Looking forward…

In Resonant Residence (3)

By

In Resonant Residence (3)

I formally began Studio Residency at the Camera Obscura Art Lab


in Santa Monica Wednesday January 10th.  I share the sunlit space, located within the 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.

Second Workshop, January 20, 2018:
Making the Tunnel Book

Hey there! Creating together….

Our Tunnel Books were comprised of two accordion  sides/spines, a back “drop” (background sheet attached to both spines), and cross pieces or frames attached to each fold of the spines and moving back in space.  The ‘scene” is developed by attaching imagery, shapes, designs, patterns and textures to the cross pieces. Sound confusing? Just look at what these talented, creative and best of all, open to adventure participants made!

Pacific Northwest?

Terrific trio…bey of beauties. Each created a jewel of a piece.

Above the orange background piece is attached to the pink and red accordion spines, and a patterned blue strip of paper ois being glues to the fold closest to the backdrop in both spines.

This maker brought in a piece of her own embroidery, and used vintage Victorian style cutout to create her scene. i happen to know this piece was gifted to someone after the workshop!

Contemplating an underwater dive (scene). Seriously!

The work of our hands….this maker taught jewelry making for many years at Santa Monica College.

With the “doors” shut, this piece looks like a castle…

This maker imaginatively used dullard cut-outs to create a surf-themed piece for her neice.

This maker has a very distinct sensibility, and often chooses earth tones, punctuated by color, adding a strong design sense to her work.

This maker is one creative soul…she works with textiles and has done theatrical design, and it shows. She also supported and cheered on her fellow makers.


“It’s time”…says it all….is there a trip in store?

It is magical to create by the sand, by the sea, by the blue Pacific, and share this experience with these makers.  Picturing your dreams can be the first step to bringing them to life and making them come true.
Gratitudes.

 

In Resonant Residence (2)

By

In Resonant Residence (2)

I formally began Studio Residency at the Camera Obscura Art Lab


in Santa Monica Wednesday January 10th.  I share the sunlit space, located within the 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.

First Workshop, January 13, 2018:
Making the Flag Book


Three generations of makers…


Full body…making while standing.


Full spirit…making while laughing.


Full enjoyment…making while smiling.


Women makers create together.


She instinctually softens the “warning” combination of yellow and black (think large cats, bumblebees and “yield” signs) with earthy cardstock.


Choices. Always fascinating to see the colors people choose to use to share their stories.


The effort of gluing effectively.


Using library cards from Verdugo Hills High School as flag pages.


Putting it all together and ready for content.

It is magical to create by the sand, by the sea, by the blue Pacific, and share this experience with these makers.
Gratitudes.

In Resonant Residence (1)

By

In Resonant Residence (1)

I formally began Studio Residency at the Camera Obscura Art Lab


in Santa Monica Wednesday January 10th.  I share the sunlit space, located within the 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.


We will both teach weekly public workshops on Saturdays as a key component of our 14 week residencies.


I will be teaching “Flag Books and Found Writing” Saturday January 13th as my first workshop…looking forward to this.


At 1450 Ocean, I was greeted by glass doors and gleaming floors…


and gorgeous views of rainy park and sea. Getting ready here to set up shop.


Handmade papers may find their way into something.


Resonant materials. The power of cloth. Texture. The tactile. Textiles. The haptic.


Haptic “sketchbook”…planning to complete its pages during the Residency.


I begin two pieces with watercolor paper, canvas, book board and wood, cont series of works that progressively investigate the emotional, sensory and evocative aspects of texture, textiles, cloth, fiber, cord and string in book format. Through these works i aim to  the very nature of the book as object, communicative tool and form of expression.


Accordion spine of watercolor paper, and book board.


Experimenting with Baltic Birch plywood covers.


“The Sheltering Book‘, about to transform into “The Big Beach Book”…this metamorphosis  to be enacted in part by workshop participants!

Grateful, honored and  thrilled to be part of this process…moving forward.

 

 

 

“We Right The Book” VI

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“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.

“Learn How To Make Your Own Book”

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Please join us for a fun program teaching children and tweens how to make their own kinetic, innovative and versatile flag books! Led by City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Artist-in- Residence at Verdugo Hills High School Debra Disman, and assisted by bookmaking students from Verdugo Hills High School.

This program is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.