Debra Disman

Artist

COMMUNITY BOOKMAKING

Flower-fold Bookmaking Honors Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at the West Valley Regional Branch Library!

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I was thrilled to lead a bookmaking workshop, (called a “program” in Library parlance!) on May 11, 2023,  celebrating the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (of May) with a “Flower-Fold” Bookmaking program using origami paper and folding techniques.

Participants of a range of ages learned to make the flower fold structure, then linked together several “flowers” into chains, added covers and ribbons. Some participants went on to develop their books with assorted materials including decorative papers, stickers and magazines.

The results were beautiful, and filled participants with pride as they navigated the trickier aspects of the process.

 

This offering was part of my Artist Residency in Bookmaking, “We Write the Book” at the West Valley Regional Branch Library of the Los Angeles Public Library, through the Los Angeles City Department of Cultural Affairs.
The Residency is comprised of a series of bookmaking workshops presented at the Library, planned in close coordination with Library Staff.

Learn to Create a RAINBOW BUTTERFLY Book in Honor of PRIDE MONTH at the West Valley Regional Branch Library!

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Celebrate Pride Month at the West Valley Library with our Artist in Residence, Debra Disman!

Learn to create the Rainbow Butterfly Book in honor of PRIDE month with our artist-in-residence Debra Disman!
Learn new skills while having fun!

All materials provided.

 

For More Information:

[Read more…] about Learn to Create a RAINBOW BUTTERFLY Book in Honor of PRIDE MONTH at the West Valley Regional Branch Library!

West Valley Regional Branch Library Artist Residency CULMINATION Event!!!

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Celebrate a wonderful year of creativity and hands-on making at a special culminating event with our Artist in Residence in bookmaking Debra Disman!

Thursday, June 22nd at 4:00 P.M.

Learn how to create your very own travel journal to document your summer adventures!

See a slideshow sharing the bookmaking projects we have done together over the past year!

Pick up goody bags of fun library and art SWAG to use during the program and bring home!

COME CELEBRATE WITH US!

Earth Poetry Bookmaking at the West Valley Regional Branch Library!

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I was thrilled to lead a bookmaking workshop, (called a “program” in Library parlance!) on April 13, 2023,  celebrating the Poetry Month of April through the lens of Earth Day/Nature/The Environment.

This offering was part of my Artist Residency in Bookmaking, “We Write the Book” at the West Valley Regional Branch Library of the Los Angeles Public Library, through the Los Angeles City Department of Cultural Affairs.
The Residency is comprised of a series of bookmaking workshops presented at the Library, planned in close coordination with Library Staff.

For our EARTH POETRY BOOKAMKING program, participants of all ages learned to create a bound book that can be hung on the wall as well as about the 17 syllable technique of creating HAIKU poetry.

Once each maker had bound their book together, they were free to fill it with poetry, stories, illustrations, stickers, drawings and collage! The results were moving and inspiring, as testified to by Branch Manager, Kevin Hasely in this short video! Watch VIDEO.


Exploring the inner and outer POET!


We were thrilled to welcome a group of 8-12 year-olds from a program of the nearby police cadet academy!


Playing with materials.


Mother and son work together!



20-somethings explored their creativity!


Participants worked together and on their own.

E
Employing stickers and origami papers to great effect.


Storywriting!


Utilizing the Haiku poems from the information packet passed out.


Learning about HAIKU poetry.


Classic…



The import of kindness.



Cooperation.


Discovery.


Material abundance!


Sharing.


Friend fun!

PURE JOY!!!

Celebrate Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at the West Valley Regional Branch Library!

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Join us and learn how to create the Flower Fold book with Artist in Residence Debra
Disman!
Celebrate springtime and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage
Month, and add special hopes and wishes to your book. All materials included.


This program is part of my Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Artist Residency in bookmaking at the West Valley Regional Branch Library!

Boys MAKE THEIR OWN BOOKS!

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I was thrilled to teach “Make Your Own Books” through the City of Santa Monica’s CREST Enrichment program during January and February 2023!
I had a fantastic class of all boys who worked together beautifully, learned enthusiastically, and displayed great creativity and passion for their book projects!

Here is what one Mom said of her son’s experience with bookmaking:

“Owen is so sad he will be missing the last class this week as we are out of town.   I wanted to share how much this class has changed Owen.  He is obsessed with making books now and holds his own comic book club…daily…with his Dad and I. He carries them everywhere.  He shows everyone.”

This was thrilling for me to hear…it is what a teaching artist lives for!

Below are they boys in action during our after-school program: