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Debra Disman

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Curators Ara Oshagan and  Anahid Oshagan

In Reflection: “Three Sisters And Their Mother” and more

February 5, 2024 By Debra Disman

I was thrilled to have a solo exhibition last winter at ReflectSpace Gallery, part of Glendale Arts and Culture, in the Glendale Central Library which opened Saturday January 28th and was on view through March 19,2023.
The show, a dream come true that I did not even know I  had, was curated by the wonderful Ara and Anahid Oshagan of The City of Glendale and founders of the gallery..

I was fortunate to have master photographer Gene Ogami document the show.

I share here two images featuring a work entitled, “Three Sisters And Their Mother”, which  engages a concept and presentation I am still exploring.

“Three Sisters and Their Mother” (2022),  made of canvas, acrylic paint, hemp cord, sunlight and gravity, is approximately 30” x 72”. Its dimensions are variable depending on how it is installed, the intervals of space between the components or sections, the way its ever-tangling cord/string wanders across each section, how high or low to the ceiling or the floor it is positioned, and how much in relief from the wall it is hung. As Eva Hesse once said about a work or works of hers… Can it be different every time…? (paraphrase). Naomi Spector writes beautifully about these ideas as regards to Hesse’s work.

Also pictured are: (below and clockwise from “Three Sisters And Their Mother”)
“I Can’t I Won’t I Will I Do”, (The titular work in the show), 2022,13 x 71.5”, repurposed table runner, acrylic paint, linen thread
“Finally”, (can hang on wall in slight relief), 2022, 48 x 19.5”, canvas, lace, hemp cord, sewing thread
“Excavation of the Interior”, 2021, 12″ x 28″ x 12.5″, wood, mulberry paper, canvas, muslin, watercolor paper, hemp cord, linen thread
Our human connections, gossamer though they may seem, form a tangled web that is always changing, and in some ways unfathomable, but there and always mysterious.

 

Filed Under: Exhibitions, New Work, Presentations, TEXTILE/FIBER, Work Tagged With: "Excavation of the Interior", "Finally", "I Can't I Won't I Will I Do", "Tree Sisters and Thier Monther", abstract, abstraction, Anahid Oshagan, Ara Oshagan, Book Festival, BOOK WORKS, Bookmakiing Workshops, Books, City of Glendale, Cord, Curators Ara Oshagan and  Anahid Oshagan, Director of Glendale Library Arts and Culture Gary Shaffer, Eva Hesse, Fiber, Fiber Art, Frida Cano, Gene Ogami, Glendale Arts and Culture, Glendale Central Library, Glendale Library Arts and Culture, Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian, Handmade Books, Hangings, Jennifer Remenchick, Laurey Bennett-Levy, Mark Henry Samuel, Michelle Robinson, Naomi Spector, Rebecca Youseff, RefectSpaceGallery, Senator Anthony L. Portantino, series, Solo Exhibition, Solo Show, Stacie B. London, String, Suzanne Voss, Tapestry, Textile, Textile Art, Textiles, triptych

“I Can’t I Won’t I Will I Do”, Revisited

November 24, 2023 By Debra Disman

Gene Ogami photographs

Filed Under: ARTISTS, Artists' Books, Exhibitions, Presentations, TEXTILE/FIBER, Women Artists, Work Tagged With: Anahid Oshagan, Ara Oshagan, Books, City of Glendale, Curators Ara Oshagan and  Anahid Oshagan, Exhibition design, Fiber, Fiber Art, Frida Cano, Gallery show, Gallery sow, Gene Ogami, Glendale Arts and Culture, Glendale Central Library, Glendale Library Arts and Culture, Handmade Books, Mark Henry Samuel, RefectSpaceGallery, Solo Exhibition, Solo Show, Stacie B. London, Textile Art, Textiles

Walking Through “I Can’t I Won’t I Will I Do”

May 1, 2023 By Debra Disman

Photographer Gene Ogami documented my 2023 solo show, “I Can’t I Won’t I Will I Do” at ReflectSpace Gallery in the Glendale Central Library.
The ten images below provide a virtual walk-through of the exhibition, which was, as I shared with the curators, Ara and Anahid Oshagan, a dream come true that I did not even know I had.

Gratitude to them, to Gene, and to so many others who supported this realization.


Walking into the meditative gallery space from the main library.


Catching some of the larger pieces through the vitrine reflections.


Capturing exhibition signage, the “Concurrencies” artists’ book, the two Concurrencies hangings, and “Throes of the Body” in the vitrine.


A favorite corner of the Curators, Installers and myself!


“Three Sisters and Their Mother” on the wall, hanging over the titular work, “I Can’t I Won’t I Will I Do” on shelf.


“Finally, and Just For A Minute” suspended. Black on black on black is challenging to photograph.


A shot that manages to include over half the pieces in the show.


Gene was able to present me surrounded and supported by my works.


We were able to employ the hallway to present other works, and enlargements of the images featured in my artists’ book, “Concurrencies”, comparing the lives and works of artists Charlotte Salomon and Eva Hesse.


The Journey Continues.
In gratitude and appreciation.

Filed Under: ARTISTS, Artists' Books, Exhibitions, TEXTILE/FIBER, Women Artists, Work Tagged With: "I Can't I Won't I Will I Do", Anahid Oshagan, Ara Oshagan, Art Gallery, Book as Sculpture, Books, Charlotte Salomon, City of Glendale, Concurrencies, Curators Ara Oshagan and  Anahid Oshagan, Documentary Photography, Eva Hesse, Fiber, Fiber Art, Gene Ogami, Glendale Arts and Culture, Glendale Central Library, Glendale Library Arts and Culture, Handmade Books, Hanging, Mark Henry Samuel, Poetry Consults, RefectSpaceGallery, ReflectSpace, ReflectSpaceGallery, Sewing, Solo Exhibition, Solo Show, Stitching, Tapestry, Textile Art, Textiles, Tina Demirdjian

DISMAN-tling “I Can’t I Won’t I Will I Do” at ReflectSpace Gallery!

April 3, 2023 By Debra Disman

It was with  tenderness mixed with pride and appreciation that I DISMAN-tled my solo show, “I Can’t I Won’t I Will I Do ” which ran from late January to late March 2023, in the ReflectSpace Gallery in the Glendale Central Library, curated by the inimitable duo, Anahid and Ara Oshagan.


Thank you Tony, for your assistance, climbing those ladders, and using those tools!

A bit of fun with Tina Demirdjian of Poetry Consults.
Thank you Tina for the support on all fronts!

It takes a village…the completion of a job well done! With the incomparable Anahid Oshagan, co-curator of ReflectSpace, and Tina Demirdjian of Poetry Consults.


Posing with the Glendale Gals: Tina and Anahid…


and with the marvelous Maryl Fleisher, Marketing Program Supervisor at Glendale Library, Arts & Culture.

A dream I did  not even know I had…fulfilled.

Thank you…appreciation, and gratitude.

Filed Under: ARTISTS, Artists' Books, BOOKS, Exhibitions, New Work, TEXTILE/FIBER, Women Artists, Work Tagged With: Anahid Oshagan, Ara Oshagan, Books, City of Glendale, Curators Ara Oshagan and  Anahid Oshagan, Fiber, Fiber Art, Glendale Arts and Culture, Glendale Central Library, Glendale Library Arts and Culture, Handmade Books, Mark Henry Samuel, Poetry Consults, RefectSpaceGallery, ReflectSpace, ReflectSpaceGallery, Solo Exhibition, Solo Show, Textile Art, Textiles, Tina Demirdjian

“I Can’t I Won’t I Will I Do” Solo Show INSTALLATION at ReflectSpace Gallery!

February 13, 2023 By Debra Disman

I am thrilled to have a solo exhibition at ReflectSpace Gallery, part of Glendale Arts and Culture, which opened Saturday January 28th and is on view through March 26,2023.
The show, a dream come true that I did not even know I  had, was curated by the wonderful Ara and Anahid Oshagan of The City of Glendale. Here I share a bit of our installation process, helmed by the wonderful Stacie B. London, Jennifer Remenchick and Chloe Corse.


“Concurrencies II” lays in wait to be hung.


Working with Chloe to hang “Concurrencies I” and “Concurrencies II”.


Exhibition design in process.


Chloe in action.


Works in waiting…to be placed!


The indefatigable ARA OSHAGAN, artist, curator, publisher, force of nature, and perhaps little-known fact, physicist!


A beautiful corner, complete, and further views:


Team consultation, Stacie, Jennifer, Ara.


“Rent Wound Tear, Mend Heal Repair”


Negotiating the pedestals and shelves for the 3-d works.


Ara surveys the scene.


Another beautiful corner complete.


Tick Tick Tick…the installation gets done…on time for the upcoming opening.

Gratitudes to ALL!

Filed Under: BOOKS, Exhibitions, New Work, TEXTILE/FIBER, Work Tagged With: Anahid Oshagan, Ara Oshagan, Book Festival, Bookmakiing Workshops, Books, Chloe Corse, City of Glendale, Curators Ara Oshagan and  Anahid Oshagan, Exhibition design, Fiber, Fiber Art, Gallery show, Gallery sow, Glendale Arts and Culture, Glendale Central Library, Glendale Library Arts and Culture, Handmade Books, Installation, Jennifer Remenchick, Michelle Robinson, Solo Exhibition, Solo Show, Stacie B. London, Textile Art, Textiles

“I Can’t I Won’t I Will I Do Solo Show Opening At ReflectSpace Gallery!

February 7, 2023 By Debra Disman

I am thrilled to have a solo exhibition at ReflectSpace Gallery, part of Glendale Arts and Culture, which opened Saturday January 28th and is on view through March 19,2023.
The show, a dream come true that I did not even know I  had, was curated by the wonderful Ara and Anahid Oshagan of The City of Glendale.

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Beautiful show video by Jennifer Remenchick, artist, writer, videographer and exhibition installer.


The opening was warm, wonderful and wild!


Our ReflectSpace-published artist book: “Concurrencies Charlotte Salomon, and Eva Hesse Genius, Trauma and the Creative Imagination”.
I was moved and surprised by flowers sent by my family, and a certificate presented by Senator Anthony L. Portantino!


Stacie B. London, exhibition designer and installer extraordinaire…and esteemed colleague.


Artist colleagues Laurey Bennett Levy and Rebecca Youseff


The very colorful artist and animator Michelle Robinson


Beloved artist and curator friend,  Frida Cano


Frida and Mick


Dear friend and actor extraordinaire, Suzanne Voss


Long-time no-see friend Rayne with Mark


Mark and I hanging with the beautiful Anahid Oshagan, curator and lawyer,  and Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian


I was honored to receive a City of Glendale Certificate of Recognition,  presented by Senator Anthony L. Portantino!


Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian and  Senator Anthony L. Portantino!

Director of Glendale Library Arts and Culture Gary Shaffer,  Mon Cher Mark, Curator  Anahid Oshagan, and  Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian


What a line-up!
Exhibition Designer Stacie B. London, Curators Ara Oshagan and  Anahid Oshagan, Director of Glendale Library Arts and Culture Gary Shaffer, Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian, Mark, myself, and  Senator Anthony L. Portantino and esteemed City of Glendale colleague!

Filed Under: ARTISTS, Artists' Books, AWARDS, BOOKS, Exhibitions, New Work, TEXTILE/FIBER, Women Artists, Work Tagged With: Anahid Oshagan, Ara Oshagan, Book Festival, Bookmakiing Workshops, Books, City of Glendale, Curators Ara Oshagan and  Anahid Oshagan, Director of Glendale Library Arts and Culture Gary Shaffer, Fiber, Fiber Art, Frida Cano, Glendale Arts and Culture, Glendale Central Library, Glendale Library Arts and Culture, Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian, Handmade Books, Jennifer Remenchick, Laurey Bennett-Levy, Mark Henry Samuel, Michelle Robinson, Rebecca Youseff, RefectSpaceGallery, Senator Anthony L. Portantino, Solo Exhibition, Solo Show, Stacie B. London, Suzanne Voss, Textile Art, Textiles

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