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Debra Disman

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Fireworks Book

“We Write The Book” BOX OF FIREWORKS Bookmaking Workshop at the Northridge Library!

April 23, 2025 By Debra Disman

Join us at the Northridge Branch Library as we learn to create the fun and fantastic “BOX OF FIREWORKS” book, invented by British artist Paul Johnson,  in honor of Springtime and Storymaking!

Saturday May 17 –  11:00AM – 1:00PM

FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC!    All materials included!

I am thrilled to work  with the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Neighborhood Engagement Artist Residency (NEAR).  I am honored to be serving the City of Los Angeles again through the DCA.


I am an artist-in-residence at the Northridge Branch Library, conducting bookmaking workshops and events for the local community and library patronage from February through May, 2025, on selected Wednesday afternoons, 3:30-5:00PM, and Saturdays 11:00am – 12:30PM
Please note date change, May 21st Saturday program is now May 14th!
Same time and place! 11:00AM – 12:30PM at the Northridege Branch Library!

Tagged With: art-making workshops for families, Artist Residency, Book, Book as Art, Book Structures, BOOKBINDING, Bookmaking, Books made by Hand, Community, Community Artmaking, COMMUNITY BOOKMAKING, DCA LA, DCA-funded artist residency, Families Making Books, Family Bookmaking, Fireworks Book, Folded and glues books, Handmade Books, Intergenerational Arts workshops, LAPL, Librarians, Los Angeles Public Library, Making Books Together, mixed media books, NEAR Residency, Neighborhood Engagement Artist Residency, Northridge, Northridge Branch Library, Paper Engineering, Paul Johnspon, Pop-up Books, Repeated forms, Storymaking, The Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles, THE LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM

Fireworks Bookmaking Workshop!

January 30, 2019 By Debra Disman

Children and families,  join us to learn how to make the “Fireworks” book that expands as it unfolds. To honor African-American History Month we will develop our books with images of barrier-breaking members of this community who created their own brand of fireworks and changed our country, our culture, and our world.

All materials included!

This program is made possible by an Artist in Residence grant The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Tagged With: African-American History Month, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, Artist Residency The Granada Hills Library, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Artmaking at the Public Library, Bookmaking at the Public Library, Books made by Hand, Community Artmaking, Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles, Fireworks Book, Folded Books, Granada Hills Library, Granada Hills Public Library, Handmade Books, LAPL, Los Angeles Public Library, Paper Engineering, Pop-up Books

Bookmaking series with Debra Disman at The Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean

May 1, 2018 By Debra Disman

Bookmaking series with Debra Disman at the Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean

[Read more…] about Bookmaking series with Debra Disman at The Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean

Tagged With: 1450 Ocean, Artists"s Book/s, Books made by Hand, Community Artmaking, Fireworks Book, Flag Book, Handmade Books, SANTA MONICA, The Canera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean, TUNNEL BOOK

In Resonant Residence (6)

February 14, 2018 By Debra Disman

In Resonant Residence (6)

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.

Fourth Workshop, February 3, 2018:
Making the Fireworks Book, A whimsical pop-up book project, designed by UK Book Artist, Paul Johnson, who derived it from an Eastern European paper engineer, who was inspired by…you get the picture. We are links in the chain. A long chain, potentially, that folds up and then “explodes’ open…like fireworks…

Fireworks Book Workshop!

Folding

Adding pop-ups to the pop-up folds…

Cutting…

and pasting…

Adding the “wings” (pop-ups folding out, and in…

Color and pattern…

“s-t-o-p???”…No- keep going!

Putting it all together.

 

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: Art Lab, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, Artists" Book, Bookmaking, Camera Obscura, Camera Obscura Art Lab, Creative process, Fireworks Book, Folded Books, Makers, Materials, Pacific Palisades Park, Paper Engineering, Paper Marbling, Paul Johnson, Pop-up Books, POP-UPS, SANTA MONICA, Santa Monica Beach, Scrolls, Studio Residency at Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean, Teaching Artist

Fireworks Book with Debra Disman

January 3, 2018 By Debra Disman

Fireworks Book with Debra Disman

 

Join us for public workshops in bookmaking and more at the Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica!

These workshops are being offered as part of my Studio Residency at the Art Lab, January 13-April 14, 2018! I will be creating and teaching in the beautiful Mid-century building that houses the Art Lab, overlooking Santa Monica Beach and the blue Pacific.

Construct an extending pop-up book of repeated forms that grows from all sides as it unfolds. As you lift the book, pages pop out from the sides to explosively grand effect in a colorful display of pattern and shape.

Tagged With: ARTIST'S BOOKS, Camera, Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean, Community Artmaking, Fireworks Book, Handmade Books, Public Arts Workshops, Studio Residency at Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean

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