Debra Disman

Artist

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Handmade Books

LACMA LOVE: The Art of the Book 2: The Folded Fan Book

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We started off our Family Bookmaking Workshop series at The Los Angeles County Museum of Art  with the Accordion Fold Book, then moved onto “The Folded Fan” book (my own nomenclature)  which also employed the accordion/concertina fold to great effect.

We visited the B. Gerald Cantor Sculpture Garden, and viewed Chris Burden‘s master work, “Urban Light“, observed and drew perspective, “layers” and distance (“things being behind and in front of other things” ) then returned to the Park View Studio to look at our drawings, learn the “folded fan” book structure, create our books, then develop and embellish them!  (This last the reward, some might say, of the effort that went before).


Side by side…


Peer to Peer support, children AND parents!


The support team.


It’s creation time!


Dynamic duo.


Co-creative-conspirators.


Working together.


Mom as assistant!


Show and tell…she was too shy, so Dad did it!


Sharing time on the stage.

Everyone wins..such a beautiful time had by parents and children working together, side-by-side, cheering each other on.

What could be better?

LACMA LOVE: The Art of the Book 1: The Accordion Book

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We started off our Family Bookmaking Workshop series at The Los Angeles County Museum of Art  with Accordion Fold/Concertina Fold Books, a basic yet complex structure, as regards to the amount of surfaces makers had to work on and develop.

We visited Chris Burden‘s master work, “Metropolis II“, observed and drew movement, then returned to the Park View Studio to look at our drawings, learn the accordion fold book structure, create our books, then develop and embellish them!


Mom and son work together.


He proudly shows off his completed creation.


Two beauties,


creating pink and purple beauty.


What a line-up!


Zeroing in…


Completed “min-book”!


This young maker is attending with his Dad,


who enjoyed the time to create his own book as well.


Much needed Mom makers time.


Mother and daughter makers, with friend looking on,


repeating colors and patterns to create a story.


Here is the friend with her Mom, creating an amazing book!


Using pattern to express fruit, vegetables and animals…and create a beautiful world.


A blue ribbon winner!


Working with pop-ups,


to create a “talking” bird.


The winning smile and dimple!

Everyone wins..such a beautiful time had by parents and children working together, side-by-side, cheering each other on.

What could be better?

“Reading Takes You Anywhere!”(2)

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Here is the inaugural workshop at the Granada Hills Branch Library of the LAPL, kicking off my artist residency there:  “We Write the Book“, supported by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles.

For the Summer Reading Theme:  “Reading Takes You Anywhere!”  participants created a Travel Journal…an accordion book with pockets and sewn in pages.

Meet the bookmakers!


Three generations  of women and girls, making books.


What a message…she came up with this title on her own.


Our lovely helpers Emily and Erica, with two of our younger makers.


Sharing their embellishment!


Three generations of females again…with Grandma and Granddaughter participating in the workshop.


I see a theme here…crossed ribbons marks the spot…


Two beautiful families, one, about to take off for Australia.
A Travel Journal will come in handy…

“Reading Takes You Anywhere!”(1)

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Inaugural workshop at the Granada Hills Branch Library of the LAPL, kicking off my artist residency there:  “We Write the Book“, supported by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles.

For the Summer Reading Theme:  “Reading Takes You Anywhere!”  participants created a Travel Journal…an accordion book with pockets and sewn in pages.

Here are some of the results.
TBC in the next post…“Reading Takes You Anywhere! (2)”.


Washi love.


Working on the covers.


Stuck on stickers!


“Mom’s Travel Journal”…an elegant use of decorative butterflies, maps, birds and color. This Mom is headed soon to Australia…and hopefully, her Travel Journal will come in handy.
Bon voyage!

Up next….the book makers behind (or in front of) the books.

Stay tuned!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elegance…

 

The Book as Art v6.0: Pulp

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I am honored to have two pieces in this upcoming exhibition:

The Book as Art v6.0: Pulp
the Book As Art 2018
August 10–September 28 | open during library hours
The Periodicals Gallery of the Decatur Library
215 Sycamore St., Decatur, Ga.

Artist books take many forms – from handmade and lusciously tactile to linear and informative, abstract and questioning to sculptural and monumental. This juried show celebrates the book with a wildly varied collection of inventive and spectacular work that challenges expectations.

This is an exhibition that has been described by critics as, “wildly eclectic” and finding “. . . new and often startling ways to reimagine not just the physical format of a book but also the ideological essence of the content.” (ArtsATL, “Year in Review,” Dec. 31, 2014); approaching “sheer aesthetic magic” (Jerry Cullum, ArtsATL, “Books Become Magical Objects, Aug. 28, 2013); and with examples that “. . .push boundaries and challenge expectations in ways that are both startling and exhilarating.” (Jeff Stafford, Burnaway, “Art as Books, Books as Art,” Aug. 25, 2014)

Flag Bookmaking at the Granada Hills Public Library

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Flag Bookmaking at the Granada Hills Public Library

We will be creating the fun, versatile and kinetic flag book structure at the Public Library!
Comprised of an accordion spine, covers and “flag” pages, this easy to make, yet fantastical book can hold writing, visual art, travel treasures and ephemera and more.,

The Los Angeles Summer Reading Challenge  2018 theme is:
“Reading Takes You Everywhere”, so join us to read, make, discover and explore at the Granada Hills Branch Library.

All ages welcome, all materials provided.

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