Debra Disman

Artist

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Making Books Together

Springtime Stitch Witchery at the Canoga Park Branch Library

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We celebrated SPRINGTIME at the Canoga Park Branch Library by creating a sewn book, learning the pamphlet stitch and adding images, words, stickers, color, texture and joy to our books! Thank you to the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs for their support of my artist residency at the Library: “We Write the Book!”.


    

Celebrating Nature and Poetry at the Canoga Branch Library!

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Join Us and learn how to create the fun and fantastic flag book!

Celebrate Poetry Month and Earth Day by adding your own nature poetry and images through the technique of “found poetry” which takes the stress out of writing!

Part of my Artist Residency support by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs:
“We Write The Book”.

All materials included.

Welcome Springtime at the Canoga Branch Library!

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Join us to create a sewn book to celebrate springtime and new beginnings!

Learn the pamphlet stitch, and deck your book out with springtime flowers!

All materials provided.
This program is part of my Artist Residency at the Canoga Park Branch Library, and is supported in part by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
Please click HERE for details!

Springtime Bookmaking at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

By

Join us to create a sewn book to celebrate springtime and new beginnings!

Learn the pamphlet stitch, and deck your book out with springtime flowers!

All materials provided.
This program is part of my Artist Residency at the Canoga Park Branch Library, and is supported in part by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
Please see HERE for details!

Be My Valentine at the Canoga Park Library

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February 14th, 2024, was a sweet day at the Canoga Park Branch Library!
A group of wonderful and creative participants joined us for “Valentine’s Day Bookmaking”.

Using the accordion fold and sized covers, they created colorful books to which they added stickers, collaged images, drawing and writing, and love!


This program was part of my artist  residency “We Write the Book” at the Canoga Park Branch Library, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs!


Hearts galore!


Librarian extraordinaire Marcia Melkonian helps our participants, along with their exemplary caregivers.


Creativity in action.


Gina, an accomplished artist and supporter of our program sets up her own creative space.


The caregivers get into the act.


Lending a helping hand.


The talented Hilary loves orange.


All of Hillary’s elements work together to create a cohesive whole.


It is fascinating how she used the orange-striped washi tape, and extended the pattern upward to create what looks like a fence. Everything os orange color-coordinated.


Then, she added the calendar image of a pinky orange sunset to the top, to complete the scene.


Completed book, with ribbon!

See the participants enjoying the workshop HERE!

Bookmaking for the New Year at the Canoga Park Library!

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Book arts are alive and well at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

I am thrilled to continue my artist residency there, working with the community, teaching bookmaking workshops (or leading “programs” in library parlance!)

The series, entitled “We Write the Book”, supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, will offer 11 hands-on bookmaking workshops and a culmination event to the community free of charge, with all materials included!

On January 10, 2024 community participants gathered to create an “organizer” book for the New Year and beyond. Participants folded a pocketed accordion book, added covers, then launched into adorning their books with images, decorative papers, “gems”, markers and more. They added “note” papers to their pockets with inspirational words and images. A beautiful, and hopeful time was had by all!