Debra Disman

Artist

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Craft Contemporary Museum

We made a “Storybook Theatre” at Craft Contemporary!

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On January 11, 2026, I had the great pleasure of leading a “Storybook Theater” bookmaking workshop at the Craft Contemporary Museum for their all ages Craft Lab, entitled, “Make a Storybook Theater with Debra Disman“!

Participants were encouraged to:
“Become the author of your own story and create a one-of-a-kind storybook theater book. Combine stories, books and theater with a dramatic flair using a variety of recycled paper materials.”

So. Much. Fun!

A vibrant group gathers.


The dynamic Dr. KATE ZANKOWICZ, Ph.D., Craft Contemporary’s Director of Education, introduces the program, and encourages participants.

Focus and concentration.


Cutting without a template, freehand…to create the year of the horse (hello) and the snake (bye bye).


Book within book, to explore a theme.


Care and communication, sharing ideas.

Even the stairs were used as a work surface, by choice!



Mothers and daughters,

Partners and friends, worked together.

  Hollywood was an inspiration,



As well as Zebras!

Such a beautiful group creating beautiful, thought-provoking and whimsical works.

HERE are the Step-by-step HOW-TO instructions to create the STORYBOOK THEATER:
StorybookTheaterProgram_FINAL_PowerPoint

ENJOY!

Create a STORYBOOK THEATER at Craft Contemporary

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Craft Lab: Make a Storybook Theatre with Debra Disman 

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Become the author, illustrator, and set designer of your own imaginative world as you create a one-of-a-kind storybook theatre. This hands-on workshop invites participants to bring stories to life by combining books, storytelling, and theatrical elements with dramatic flair.

Using a variety of recycled paper materials, you’ll craft layered scenes, characters, and settings that transform the page into a miniature stage.

Recommended for ages 7 and up. All adults and children ages 3 and up must have a ticket to participate.

Craft Lab Family Workshop:

Make a Storybook Theatre with Debra Disman

Sun, Jan 11 | 1:30 – 3:30 PM

$10 public / members Free
REGISTER

 

Held in conjunction with the exhibition:

Material Curiosity by Design: Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman

 

Craft Contemporary 2025 GALA

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Some moments of the 2025 Craft Contemporary GALA!
For Your Viewing Pleasure!

Before, in the courtyard

The auction room second floor gallery, our piece, “drift” (myself and Luciana Abait)

      

Carrie’s piece

Ahree’ piece

Rosie

Alma

David

Frida’s husband Mick  (in my Monm’s vest!) (Luis behind)

Andres

Auction

Alba


Liberty and Jay Worth, Victoria May in mask

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