Debra Disman

Artist

Granada Hills Public Library

Take Another Look: Making Photo Albums at the Granada Hills Library

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To kick off my 2019-20 Artist Residency at the Granada Hills Public  Library, supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, I led a bookmaking program in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, where participants learned to make their own photo album.

 

Participants bound together a single signature (gathering of folded pages) into a binding composed of a tag board sheet folded both horizontally (to create a pocket on either side) and vertically (to create the body of the cover structure and hold the signature), then added stiffer more durable boards on either side to strengthen the covers. They sewed the components together using the pamphlet stitch and ribbon, using enough ribbon so that the ends would be long enough to tie the book closed if they wished.


Mothers and daughter created side by side and shared their work.


As did Mothers and sons,


and the whole family!


Our teen helpers got into the act too…..


and had a blast…

Pride of Book!

Cartoon/Manga/Comics Flag BookMaking Workshop

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Come and learn how to make the magical “Flag Book” structure, and fill it with  cartoon/Manga/comics images that are provided, or ones you create yourself.

Free, all materials included, open to the public, all are welcome!

This workshop is part of my Department of Cultural Affairs Artist Residency at the Sunland-Tujunga Public Library, 2019-2020 and is made possible in part by a grant form the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

This workshop is geared for teens, but all are welcome!

“Make A Photo Album”

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Join the fun and create a unique photo album in which to honor family and friends in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month!!

Learn single signature binding, the pamphlet stitch, and how to create pockets for treasured items as well as how to use all kinds of beautiful and festive materials!

Free, all materials included, open to the public, all are welcome!

This workshop is part of my Department of Cultural Affairs Artist Residency at the Sunland-Tujunga Public Library, 2019-2020 and is made possible in part by a grant form the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

 

Marbling Unfurled: Making Marbled Scrolls at the Granada Hills Library

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It has been exciting to lead programs at the Granada Hills Branch Library of the LAPL, as part of my Artist Residency there:  “We Write the Book“, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

In honor of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, I led a workshop for all on how to marble paper, create scrolls and put these two forms together into one of the oldest book structures extant.


Scrollwork made by an adult artist at a UCLA-Fowler Museum program and generously gifted to me, and which I often use as a sample/model to inspire students.


We begin by floating specially formulated inks on the surface of a tub of water. The ink colors can be gently moved around to create designs. Papers are then carefully lowered onto the surface of the “inked” water, and pick up the designs, like a monoprint!


The marbled papers are lifted out of the tub, placed on and under and blotted with paper towels, which absorb excess water and help with the drying process.


The results can be delicate pastel,


or stronger colors and patterns, depending on the colors and handling of the inks.


While their marbled papers were drying, participants chose bright tagboard papers for their scrolls and added wooden dowels at the vertical top and bottom of the pieces. They then added their marbled papers and a myriad of other materials!


We used both glue sticks and tacky glue, depending on the weight of the materials added.


The results were resplendent, with the softer strength marbled papers contrasting with gold ribbon and more.


Intergenerational attendance enriched the experience, as participants of all ages engaged their creativity and learned new skills in the process.


Whole families joined us, even with very young attendees! Hopefully, these young parents of two got a break.


Attendees young and old loved adding two and three-dimensional stickers,


washi tape, ribbon and string,


putting them all together in imaginative and innovative ways to create singular scrollworks.


This says it all. The Library belongs to Everyone!

Rainbow Bookmaking Workshop at the Granada Hills Library

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Artist-in-Residence Debra Disman will instruct patrons in how to make a rainbow book in celebration of LGBTQ Heritage Month. Everyone is welcome to attend this culmination event where everyone who attended a previous bookmaking program can share their creations.  Refreshments will be served. This program is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Scroll-making and Paper Marbling Workshop atthe Granada Hills Library!

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Join us for an extraordinary scroll-making and paper marbling workshop in honor of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month!

Everyone is welcome!
All materials provided, just bring yourself, your creativity, and friends and family!

This program is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs