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Debra Disman

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Handmade Books

Flower-fold Bookmaking Honors Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at the West Valley Regional Branch Library!

May 12, 2023 By Debra Disman

I was thrilled to lead a bookmaking workshop, (called a “program” in Library parlance!) on May 11, 2023,  celebrating the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (of May) with a “Flower-Fold” Bookmaking program using origami paper and folding techniques.

Participants of a range of ages learned to make the flower fold structure, then linked together several “flowers” into chains, added covers and ribbons. Some participants went on to develop their books with assorted materials including decorative papers, stickers and magazines.

The results were beautiful, and filled participants with pride as they navigated the trickier aspects of the process.

 

This offering was part of my 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.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Artist Residency, Asian American, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Book, Book as Art, Book Structures, BOOKBINDING, Bookmaking, Books made by Hand, Community Artmaking, COMMUNITY BOOKMAKING, DCA LA, DCA-funded artist residency, Flower Fold, Flower Fold Book Structure, Flower-fold bookmaking, Handmade Books, Hanging Books, Intergenerational Arts workshops, Kevin Hasely, LAPL, Librarians, Los Angeles Public Library, Making Books Together, mixed media books, Nature Poetry, Origami, Origami Paper, Pacific Islander, Poetry, Poetry Month, Self-expression, The Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles, West Valley Regional Branch Library

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

Hemp as Material and Muse

April 25, 2023 By Debra Disman

I was thrilled to be contacted by Nadine Avillar,  the art director at Hemptique,  a hemp and natural fiber craft supply company based in San Diego.  Hemptique manufactures a large variety of hemp cords, ropes, twine, paper, fabrics, as well as bamboo and cotton products. They are the  creator of organic apparel, accessories, with a focus on hemp products and supplies.

I use a great deal of hemp cord in my works, often listing it as a primary material.

Nadine contacted me in regards to my piece , “Before the Fall“.  Hemptique was going to be an exhibitor at NAMTA, (Art and Creative Craft Materials, an organization for the creative industry) 2023 and she wanted to use a photo of my work on one of their promotional banners. NAMTA is the publisher of ART MATERIALS magazine and hold a trade show every year.

She said Hemptique has many contributors that work with their products who are more or less “crafters.” She wanted to show how I have used hemp cord in my mixed-media works. Eventually, the owners of Hemptique decided they wanted to use an image of another of my pieces, “Red Notebook” on the banner,

and an image of “Before the Fall” on their promotional postcard.

I was honored to be represented in this way, and also so happy to received boxes of marvelous Hemptique products/supplies/materials, to use not only in my works, but in projects, classes, programs and workshops that I conduct across LA Country. This was truly a win-win situation and I hope to continue the relationship with Hemptique, Nadine and the owners and staff with more collaborations and new ways of presenting, sharing about and promoting their wares.
Long Live HEMP!

 

Filed Under: MEDIA, TEXTILE/FIBER, Work Tagged With: "Before the Fall", (Art and Creative Craft Materials, an organization for the creative industry), ARTIST'S BOOKS, Bookmaking, Books, Handmade Books, hemp and natural fiber craft supply, HEMP CORD, Hemp products, Hemp supplies, hemptique, LINEN THREAD, Materiality, Mixed media, Nadine Avillar, NAMTA, Red Notebook, Repurposed materials

Learn to Create a RAINBOW BUTTERFLY Book in Honor of PRIDE MONTH at the West Valley Regional Branch Library!

April 19, 2023 By Debra Disman

Celebrate Pride Month at the West Valley Regional Library with our Artist in Residence, Debra Disman!

Learn to create the Rainbow Butterfly Book in honor of PRIDE month with our artist-in-residence Debra Disman!
Learn new skills while having fun!

All materials provided.

 

For More Information:

[Read more…] about Learn to Create a RAINBOW BUTTERFLY Book in Honor of PRIDE MONTH at the West Valley Regional Branch Library!

Tagged With: ACCORDION SPINE, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, Bookmaking, Books made by Hand, Butterbfly, Butterfly, Community Artmaking, COMMUNITY BOOKMAKING, DCA, Families, FAMILY ARTMAKING, Handmade Books, Hands on bookmaking, LA DCA, LAPL, LGBTQ, LGBTQ Heritage Month, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles Public Library, Making Books Together, Paper foldoing, PRIDE Month, Rainbow, Rainbow Butterfly book, Repeated forms, West Valley Regional Branch Library

West Valley Regional Branch Library Artist Residency CULMINATION Event!!!

April 17, 2023 By Debra Disman

Celebrate a wonderful year of creativity and hands-on making at a special culminating event with our Artist in Residence in bookmaking Debra Disman!

Thursday, June 22nd at 4:00 P.M.

Learn how to create your very own travel journal to document your summer adventures!

See a slideshow sharing the bookmaking projects we have done together over the past year!

Pick up goody bags of fun library and art SWAG to use during the program and bring home!

COME CELEBRATE WITH US!

Tagged With: ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, Bookmaking, Books made by Hand, Community Artmaking, COMMUNITY BOOKMAKING, Culmination, DCA, Families, FAMILY ARTMAKING, Family festival, Handmade Books, Hands on bookmaking, LA DCA, LAPL, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles Public Library, Making Books Together, Sewn Books, signature books, Travel Journal, West Valley Regional Branch Library

Earth Poetry Bookmaking at the West Valley Regional Branch Library!

April 17, 2023 By Debra Disman

I was thrilled to lead a bookmaking workshop, (called a “program” in Library parlance!) on April 13, 2023,  celebrating the Poetry Month of April through the lens of Earth Day/Nature/The Environment.

This offering was part of my 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.

For our EARTH POETRY BOOKAMKING program, participants of all ages learned to create a bound book that can be hung on the wall as well as about the 17 syllable technique of creating HAIKU poetry.

Once each maker had bound their book together, they were free to fill it with poetry, stories, illustrations, stickers, drawings and collage! The results were moving and inspiring, as testified to by Branch Manager, Kevin Hasely in this short video! Watch VIDEO.


Exploring the inner and outer POET!


We were thrilled to welcome a group of 8-12 year-olds from a program of the nearby police cadet academy!


Playing with materials.


Mother and son work together!



20-somethings explored their creativity!


Participants worked together and on their own.

E
Employing stickers and origami papers to great effect.


Storywriting!


Utilizing the Haiku poems from the information packet passed out.


Learning about HAIKU poetry.


Classic…



The import of kindness.



Cooperation.


Discovery.


Material abundance!


Sharing.


Friend fun!

PURE JOY!!!

Filed Under: Artists' Books, BOOKS, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: "We Write The Book", 17 Syllables, Artist Residency, Book, Book as Art, Book Structures, BOOKBINDING, Bookmaking, Books made by Hand, Branch manager, Community Artmaking, COMMUNITY BOOKMAKING, DCA LA, DCA-funded artist residency, Earth Day, Earth Month, Earth Poetry, Haiku, Haiku Poetry, Handmade Books, Hanging Books, Intergenerational Arts workshops, Kevin Hasely, LAPL, Librarians, Los Angeles Public Library, Making Books Together, mixed media books, Nature Poetry, Poetry, Poetry Month, Self-expression, SIDE BOUND BOOKS, Side Stab Books, The Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles, West Valley Regional Branch Library

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