Debra Disman

Artist

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Craft Contemporary Museum

The Big Read in LA 2023 at Craft Contemporary!

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In conjunction with this year’s NEA Big Read: Los Angeles, Craft Contemporary dedicated a very special Family Craft Lab workshop to celebrating the art of bookmaking in  Using gluing and folding techniques participants created their own flag books, a unique and sculptural book with moving parts. Inspired by this years Big Read novel, Interior Chinatown, by Charles Yu, attendees developed each flag “page” with symbols, words, patterns and images to tell a story about their identity and culture. Craft Lab is for all ages, everyone is welcome!


Fearless leader BILLIE RAE VINSON, Director of School and Family Programs, planned and promoted the program, and matched her clothes to our materials, and PRIDE Month!


She and her devoted volunteers prepared the materials for our flag book project.


I brought in my own flag book samples for inspiration.




There was something for everyone on the table,


including samples of “Interior Chinatown” and the graphic novel “American Born Chinese” , a tour-de-force by New York Times bestselling graphic novelist Gene Yang,


in specialized Big Read tote bags!


The wonderful Craft Contemporary volunteers were able to exert their maker energy along with the participants.


Families, individuals, old friends and new joined together to create, and


Love…Life.

“CRAFTING MEMORIES”

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“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!

Watch AROHA Philanthropies: CREATIVE AGING in Action!

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I have been so honored to participate in AROHA Philanthropies Creative Aging initiative, and to work  with  with LA’s beloved Craft Contemporary museum, Curator of Public Engagment Andres Payan Estrada, and Museum Director, Suzanne Isken.

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.

Our spring workshop series in bookmaking was held in-person, at the Craft Contemporary. When the pandemic hit, we had to pivot to online learning and delivery, and despite the inevidable challenges, our online class community proved to be just as creative, supportive, connective and energetic as our in-person group. An incredible and indelible experience that I will carry with me moving forward.

Russ Haan, owner of After Hours Creative, directed the creation of the following videos sharing about and documenting the process of AROHA’s programming. They are inspiring, moving and energizing to watch. ENJOY!
Creative Aging: The Essentials
Creative Aging: Why Teaching Artists?
Creative Aging: Untapped Opportunity
Creative Aging: Isolation to Connection
Creative Aging: In-Person to Online 

CRAFTING HISTORIES online

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It has been an honor to work with Craft Contemporary to lead:

CRAFTING HISTORIES
Bookmaking Online Workshop 

“The Art of the Book: Crafting Our Stories By Hand is an online workshop series 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.

Workshop participants were introduced to ideas of storytelling through materials and the handmade. They were encouraged to tell their own stories using paper and everyday materials, while exploring what the term book means, why books are important, and how they have functioned through time and culture.”

See our extraordinary participants and their work here….and prepare to be amazed.

 

Preparing for: Crafting our Stories By Hand Online

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I am thrilled to be preparing to teach:
The Art of the Book: Crafting Our Stories By Hand  ONLINE!


Visual Feast…Eye Candy…Material World

Crafting Histories: Bookmaking with Debra Disman –  an Online Workshop Series


Colorful packets of bookmaking materials

The Art of the Book: Crafting Our Stories By Hand is an online workshop series 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.We invite you to register for this cycle’s participant cohort. This 8-session bookmaking series taught by artist Debra Disman will meet through the online platform Zoom, every Friday at 11am – 1pm. Starting August 7 through September 18, 2020. The program will conclude with a final presentation and discussion of works and experiences, participants will also be provided a group document and online presence to share their work with friends and family.


Hemp cord and prepped book pages and covers for sewn book structures, bright tagboard for folded and glued book forms.

Objective: Learn how to create folded, glued and sewn book structures. Learn how to use bookmaking as an expressive vehicle for communication. Learn to share stories through the medium of bookmaking

Participants will be introduced to ideas of storytelling through materials and the handmade. We will explore what the term book means, why books are important, and how they have functioned through time and culture.


Andres‘s helping hands and design eye

Orientation: Friday, August 7
Session 1: Friday, August 14
Session 2: Friday, August 21
Session 3: Friday, August 28
Session 4: Friday, September 4
Session 5: Friday, September 11
Critique & Wrap-up: Friday, September 18
Culminating Event: Friday, September 25

Andres Payan Estrada, Curator of Public Engagement at Craft Contemporary in action, prepping materials packets for participants.

Crafting Histories: Bookmaking with Debra Disman an Online Workshop Series

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a Philanthropies
Free Older Adult
Online Workshop Series

The Art of the Book: Crafting Our Stories By Hand

Crafting Histories: Bookmaking with Debra Disman an Online Workshop Series

The Art of the Book: Crafting Our Stories By Hand is an online workshop series 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.We invite you to register for this cycle’s participant cohort. This 8-session bookmaking series taught by artist Debra Disman will meet through the online platform Zoom, every Friday at 11am – 1pm. Starting August 7 through September 11, 2020. The program will conclude with a final presentation and discussion of works and experiences, participants will also be provided a group document and online presence to share their work with friends and family.

This program is completely free of charge and courses are specifically developed to meet the needs of our participants. If you are interested in this opportunity and you are over the age of 55, we invite you to apply today! We only ask that registrants MUST commit to participating in all 8 program sessions including the culminating event.

Space is limited to 12 participants that will be selected from their application response. Deadline to apply is Monday, July 27, 2020 by midnight. All participants will be notified on their application status by Friday, July 31, 2020.

For questions or more information please contact:
[email protected]

Class Objective: Learn how to create folded, glued and sewn book structures. Learn how to use bookmaking as an expressive vehicle for communication. Learn to share stories through the medium of bookmaking

Participants will be introduced to ideas of storytelling through materials and the handmade. We will explore what the term book means, why books are important, and how they have functioned through time and culture.

Orientation: Tuesday, August 4

Session 1: Friday, August 7
Session 2: Friday, August 14
Session 3: Friday, August 21
Session 4: Friday, August 28
Session 5: Friday, September 4
Critique & Wrap-up: Friday, September 11

Culminating Event: Friday, September 25