Debra Disman

Artist

Handmade Books

BOO: Halloween Tunnel Books at the West Valley Regional Branch Library

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In July I started a new Artist Residency in Bookmaking, “We Write the Book” at the West Valley Regional Branch Library of the Los Angeles Public Library, through the Los Angeles City Department of Cultural Affairs.

The Residency is comprised of a series of bookmaking workshops presented at the Library, planned in close coordination with Library Staff.

October 20th, 2022, we had a blast learning to create “TUNNEL BOOKS” in celebration of upcoming Halloween!
See a VIDEO of an engaged mom and her creative son and  their experience of the workshop.
BOO!

  

Crafty Craft Lab Tunnel Books at Craft Contemporary!!!

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I was thrilled to lead a Tunnel Bookmaking  Craft Lab Family Workshop for one of my favorite venues in Los Angeles: Craft Contemporary.
The participants turned out fabulous, innovative and outstandingly creative projects!
Perla enjoyed the project!!!

 
Enjoy the participants’ enjoyment HERE!

Teens Raise their Flags at the West Valley Regional Branch Library

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In July I started a new Artist Residency in Bookmaking, “We Write the Book” at the West Valley Regional Branch Library of the Los Angeles Public Library, through the Los Angeles City Department of Cultural Affairs.
The Residency is comprised of a series of bookmaking workshops presented at the Library, planned in close coordination with Library Staff.
I was thrilled to work with the newly forming Teen Council, organized by teen Librarian Roya Rahimi.

Teens and tweens and even a parent or two joined us, and learned to make the fun and fabulous Flag Book!
They folded accordion spines, added covers, and glued in their flag pages to create a pattern as they opened their books. Once they created the structure, they had the pleasure, and  “reward” of adding their own colorful content to their books, using magazines, images, text, origami paper, and more.
A self-expressive, creative time was had by all.
A great kick-off session for the Teen Council, and a pleasure for myself and Roya!

“PULP- Book and Paper Arts” at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts

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I am thrilled to participate in “PULP- Book and Paper Arts” at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts!
I have two works in the show, “Prairie”, pictured below on the exhibition announcement, and “Before the Fall”.

“PULP- Book and Paper Arts” runs July 30 to Sept 4, 2022.

“This show will feature innovative and traditional explorations of book arts, paper arts, and paper sculptures, including paper objects, book-art-related objects, altered books, and sculptural and wall-mounted pieces, as well as more traditional artists’ books, letterpress printing and bookbinding.”

Show coordinators are Renee Owen and Jennylynn Hall.

Jurors are Alicia Bailey and Helen Hiebert.

Alicia Bailey, curator and artist, is currently the director of Abecedarian Books. She has been working with book forms since the mid-nineties, has owned and run a successful gallery dedicated to book arts, and is the visionary and curator behind the annual Artists’ Book Cornucopia.

Helen Hiebert is a Colorado artist who constructs installations, sculptures, films, and artists’ books and works in paper using handmade paper as her primary medium. She teaches, lectures and exhibits her work internationally and online, and is the author of several how-to books about papermaking and paper crafts.

Please see the list of Pulp artists on SCA’s current and upcoming exhibitions page.

My work, “Before the Fall” pictured above next to a beautiful modular piece.

And…Enjoy the Show!!!

Express Yourself, Do YOU at the West Valley Regional Branch Library!

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I just started a new Artist Residency in Bookmaking, “We Write the Book” at the West Valley Regional Branch Library of the Los Angeles Public Library, through the Los Angeles City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Working with families, I led a  bookmaking workshop (called a “program” in Library parlance) for a group of 20 in which they created handmade accordion fold books with pockets, which fit perfectly into the LAPL Summer Reading theme of “Express Yourself”.

Makers focused on themes of  identity, relationships and of course, self-expression!
The results were heart-warming and impressive, and a good time was had by all, as well as the learning of new skills, and a whole lot of self-expression!


Materials galore!


Creating together.


Families attended as a group.


Moms get into the act!


Dad gets into the act!



Library Children’s Librarian Sky, and teen volunteer.


An opportunity to express emotions.


Creativity abounds.


Pockets hold handmade treasures.



The beautiful results!
Proud bookmakers!

Book/Art/Artifact on VIEW!

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GBW CALIFORNIA CHAPTERS 3RD MEMBER EXHIBITION: The Info!



Book / Art / Artifact will be open to the public starting Saturday, June 11 and runs thru Sunday, August 28th, 2022.  Please check their website for operating days and times.

The opening reception will take place at San Francisco Center for the Book on Friday, June 17th from 6-8 pm. This event is free to attend. Light refreshments will be served on the back patio; remarks will be at 7 pm. Masks are required while viewing the exhibition indoors; we are encouraging people to register for the opening reception at the following link: SFCB.org

WORKSHOP – Exhibition related

SFCB and CA Chapter of GBW are offering a one day workshop Leather Surface Decoration in-person workshop with Coleen Curry to accompany the exhibition on July 2, 2022

https://sfcb.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=4332

This link is live now and is offered to CA chapter members first until June 15 and then will be open to public.

EXHIBITION CATALOGS 

The catalog is available to order online through Lulu:

https://www.lulu.com/shop/rebecca-chamlee/gbw-ca-chapter-catalog-2022/paperback/product-m97542.html?q=GBW&page=1&pageSize=4

$9.68 plus shipping. (At cost)

Those exhibiting will receive a complementary copy in the mail.

All exhibition information can be found on https://sfcb.org/bookartartifact and on our chapter website  https://gbwcaliforniachapter.wordpress.com