Debra Disman

Artist

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Folded and glued Books

“We Write the Book” “Double Signature” Bookmaking!

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JOIN US Wednesday November 12th at 3:30PM to learn how to create a “Double Signature Book”, containing two sets of sewn pages!

I am thrilled to serve again as a 2025-26 “NEAR” Artist in Residence at the Northridge Branch Library!

This Neighborhood Engagment Artist Residency is supported by the wonderful City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

I was honored to serve as  artist-in-residence at the Northridge Branch Library, conducting bookmaking workshops and events for the local community and library patronage from September – December 2025, and am looking forward to working further with the Northridge and greater community!

Our workshops are completely free to the community with  all materials and refreshments included, supported by the  City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
JOIN US!

“We Write the Book”: Making “Folded Fan” Books at the Northridge Branch Library!

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I am thrilled to serve again as a 2025-26 “NEAR” Artist in Residence at the Northridge Branch Library!

This Neighborhood Engagement Artist Residency (NEAR) is supported by the wonderful City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

On September 17th, 2025,  participants of a diverse ages and backgrounds gathered to learn how to create the fun and fanciful “FOLDED FAN”  book with pages that open like a codex, and/or fan out to create a sculptural book that can stand on its own! Folks got really creative.

   

“We Write The Book” Bookmaking Workshop III at the Northridge Branch Library!

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Please join us Wednesday September 27, at 10AM and learn the

“FLAG” Book structure! 

I am thrilled to serve again as a 2025-26 “NEAR” Artist in Residence at the Northridge Branch Library!

This Neighborhood Engagment Artist Residency is supported by the wonderful City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

I was honored to serve as  artist-in-residence at the Northridge Branch Library, conducting bookmaking workshops and events for the local community and library patronage from September – December 2025, and am looking forward to working further with the Northridge and greater community!

Our workshops are completely free to the community with  all materials and refreshments included, supported by the  City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

“We Write The Book” Bookmaking Workshop II at the Northridge Branch Library!

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Please join us Wednesday September 17, from 3:30 – 5:30PM and learn the

“Folded Fan” Book structure! 

I am thrilled to serve again as a 2025-26 “NEAR” Artist in Residence at the Northridge Branch Library!

This Neighborhood Engagment Artist Residency is supported by the wonderful City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

I was honored to serve as  artist-in-residence at the Northridge Branch Library, conducting bookmaking workshops and events for the local community and library patronage from September – December 2025, and am looking forward to working further with the Northridge and greater community!

Our workshops are completely free to the community with  all materials and refreshments included, supported by the  City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.


Please see our 2024-25Artist Residency at the beautiful Northridge Branch Library  CULMINATION EVENT!

Please see the flier below for dates and times of programs happening September – December 2025!

Flag Books for Flag Day at the Manhattan Beach Library!

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It was a great pleasure to lead a Flag Bookmaking program  on Flag Day at the Manhattan Beach Library!


Due to a fabulous donation of designer wallpaper samples,


I was able to offer a mix of exotic materials to the participants to work with!
And they employed them…


in all kinds of different ways, making use of their colors, textures, patterns and imagery


to enhance  and enrich their books!

Different makers used the same pattern…

in different ways!


A wide variety of pre-cut “flag pages” were available and used creatively.


Maker Stacy Wong shared her completed Flag Book, which she further developed after the program!


A truly colorfully creative time was had by ALL!

 

“We Write The Book” CULMINATION EVENT at the Northridge Library!

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 It was both moving and thrilling to complete my 2024-25 Artist Residency at the beautiful Northridge Branch Library .

This Neighborhood Engagment Artist Residency has been supported by the wonderful City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

I have been honored to serve as  artist-in-residence at the Northridge Branch Library, conducting bookmaking workshops and events for the local community and library patronage from February through May 31, 2025, on selected Wednesday afternoons, 3:30-5:00PM, and Saturdays 11:00am – 12:30PM

Our workshops have been completely free to community with  all materials and refreshments included, supported by the  City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Attended by participants of all ages including families, I was thrilled to see the explosively colorful and exciting projects our participants created, and their joy in working in community. many of our participants have attended multiple workshops, and some of them have attended all of the bookmaking programs!

During our CULMINATION, participants shared and read from their handmade books, enjoyed refreshments, created a mini-travel journal and learned how do the “Turkish Map Fold” which they could then add to their books!
Turkish Map Fold incorporated into mini-travel journal!


Families enjoy bookmaking together, a blend of generations!


Participants help other participants.


Renata shares one of her amazing books!


A young boy’s dream, and I think we can see what it is!


Such a pleasure to see Ardem Tajerian again, with who I worked on my first Neighborhood Engagment Artist Residency supported by the  City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs back in 2017!


A table of committed bookmakers!


The work and the results.


Maps to add to the travel journal, ready for summer adventures!


It is never too  young to start bookmaking!


A first-time participant who joined our CULMINATION!


Creatively working hands create books.


Library staff get into the creative act.


Extraordinary book works created and shown…shared with the attending community by the participating artists who made them.


Materials galore!


Process yields results.

 
Outside

Inside


Tunnel Bookmaking taken to the max!


Words not to be forgotten…


Honoring women artists in celebration of International Women’s Day and Womens History Month, March 2025

  


An incredible expression of love and committment expressed through bookmaking for a ten-year anniversary, and shared during our “We Write the Book” CULMINATION event!

It was hard to say goodbye. We hope to see everyone in the FALL!

Thank you to  the incredible City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the  fantastic Northridge Branch Library for this amazing and deeply fulfilling experience.  Thank you for allowing me to teach, share my knowledge and love of the community and books, and work together to bring together so  many beautiful souls.

Until the next!!!