Debra Disman

Artist

  •

making Books

Bookmaking Love at the West Hollywood Library!

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I was thrilled to lead a Valentine’s bookmaking program February 8th, 2025, at 2PM at the  West Hollywood Library, a beautiful and welcoming place for the whole community!

Participants learned to create their own accordion fold book with pockets and pop-ups they could give a a gift for Valentine’s Day or keep for themselves.
They added  special messages into the pockets, and learned how to create fun one and two-cut pop-ups!
Refreshments and all materials were included.

See VIDEO HERE!

A love-filled time was had by ALL!


 


See VIDEO HERE!

 

 

Bookmaking with Love at the West Hollywood Library!

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I am thrilled to lead a Valentine’s bookmaking program February 8th, 2025, at 2PM at The West Hollywood Library, a beautiful and welcoming place for the whole community!

Learn to create your own accordion fold book with pockets and pop-ups you can give a a gift for Valentine’s Day or keep for yourself!  
Put special messages into the pockets, and learn how to create fun pop-ups including hearts!
Refreshments and all materials included.

Join us and Feel the Love!

Celebrate Art and Poetry at these April Events!

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I am culminating my 2020-21 artist residency programs with the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs with two bookmaking workshops and events at the West Valley Regional Branch Library, and the Panorama City Branch Library respectively.

Please join us for either or both of these FREE online community events! Materials and goody bag provided for those who sign up, and go to the Branch sites to pick them up.

Help us celebrate National Poetry Month and the culmination of two wonderful residency programs that were conducted entirely online!  You will have the opportunity to create your own “Flag Book” and adding your own or other favorite poetry to it! Learn how to do “found writing” and express yourself through art and poetry without leaving the comfort of your own home. Details on the fliers below!!

 

ZOOM In On Distance Learning 7

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As everyone keeps saying, 2020 was a year like no other. Well, no-one had seen 2021 yet.

2021 it seems, may also prove to be a year like no other, finding us teaching online, in my case through Zoom, engaging in what is called, “distance learning”. Well, you can’t beat the commute and clean-up time, and I found there are indeed ways to connect significantly with students and colleagues, and even teach some things!

In March 2021, I led an scroll making program in honor of Women’s History Month focused on Celebrating Women Artists, at the Panorama City Branch Library,  part of my artist residency in bookmaking there, through the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.


We looked at images and information about three great women artists, Faith Ringgold, Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keeffe, and Branch Manager Roman shared some of Faith Ringgold‘s books from the Library!


Participants were invited to cut out the provided  images of the artists, their work, and the information about them, and add them to sheets of brightly colored tag board paper, which they had attached to wooden sticks, or dowels at either end, to create unique scrolls.

Each maker created a different composition with the materials provided in our fun and informative supplies packets.


One young maker added painting to the surface, then his father added images honoring women artists to complete the scroll!


Scrolls could be horizontal or vertical, and rolled up at either end and then unfurled.


Ribbon was provided for participants to keep their rolled scrolls in place if they wished to.
Here Panorama City Branch Library Branch Manager Roman gets into the act!

An honoring of Women’s History Month, Women Artists, specific women artists, the Library, and especially, of human creativity, imagination and ingenuity!
SO needed, especially during this past year and into the current one.

Gratitudes!

ZOOM In On Distance Learning 6

By

As everyone keeps saying, 2020 was a year like no other. Well, no-one had seen 2021 yet.

2021 it seems, may also prove to be a year like no other, finding us teaching online, in my case through Zoom, engaging in what is called, “distance learning”. Well, you can’t beat the commute and clean-up time, and I found there are indeed ways to connect significantly with students and colleagues, and even teach some things!

In February 2021, I led an accordion book with pockets program at the Panorama City Branch Library,  part of my artist residency in bookmaking there, through the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Using bright tag board and richly patterned origami papers,


participants learned the accordion/consertina fold,


how to create pockets in their books,


how to cover and embellish their covers,


and how to add hopes and wishes to their pockets!


Whole families, as well as Library staff, got into the act.


Pure Joy.

Gratitudes!

 

Zoom In On Distance Learning 4

By

As everyone keeps saying, 2020 was a year like no other.
Well, no-one had seen 2021 yet.

2021 it seems, may also prove to be a year like no other, finding us teaching online, in my case through Zoom, engaging in what is called, “distance learning”. Well, you can’t beat the commute and clean-up time, and I found there are indeed ways to connect significantly with students and colleagues, and even teach some things!


Here are some highlights fronm our 2021 Calendar-making program at the Panorama City Branch Library,  part of my artist residency in bookmaking there, through the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.


Creating the calendar structure, using a side-stab/side-bound stitch, at the top, to produce a vertical format.


Honoring KOBE.


Sketchbook ideas for calendar.


Forging on with the project, even without a materials packet!

Here’s to a better 2021.  Thumbs up as we Zoom on.