Join Us to Honor and Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by learning to create a folded and glued book, and add to it with “Papel Picado”, the art of cut paper!
All materials included!
Making Books Together
Getting Organized with Bookmaking at the Canoga Park Branch Library!
We held our second “We Write the Book” artist residency program at the Canoga Park Branch Library on August 19, 2023.
The series, 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
In the spirit of getting organized for the new academic year, I taught participants ranging from small children to seniors how to create an accordion-fold book with pockets, add covers, then sew in “signatures” (gatherings of folded pages), to make their books super organizing tools, with places to store notes, make notes, and take notes!
The series, 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!
Participants from children to teens to families to seniors learned how to create the accordion fold book structure and add pockets, then develop their books with a variety of decorative and print materials to make them their own. A good time was had by all, as those attending learned new skills, socialized and inspired each other with their book creations!
Even the Librarians got into the act!
Children’s Librarian Luz and teen volunteer Scott supported participants while creating their own books!
Scott cuts lengths of beautiful striped and glittering paper cord for participants to use in sewing their signatures into the folds of their accordion structures.
Library volunteer Carmen and participant Laura move through the process.
Stellar participant Gina helps fellow student.
We were joined by an energetic family of five, helmed by this intrepid Mom!
Playing with color, textures, design and form are the nuts and bolts of the process. Participants made creative decisions and learned about themselves in the process, while gaining skills in folding, cutting, sewing and gluing.
We hope to see everhone back next month, at 12:00 noon on Saturday September 23rd!
Making Flag Books at the Brand!
I was thrilled to lead a fun and fabulous flag book workshop at the Brand Library and Art Center in Glendale!
Supported by The Associates of Brand, the workshop was held in conjunction with Brand 51: Annual National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper, now on view in the Brand Library and Art Center galleries.
I am honored to be showing in this exhibition, and it provided an excellent context the workshop, in which participants learned how to make the versatile accordion folded spine and combine image and text in a way that allowed them to become author, artist, designer and writer in one fell swoop!
We dedicated the workshop to the creative efforts of all those facing challenges caused by the fires that raged on Maui.
A meaningful time was had by all.
Assembling the components, Covers, flag pages, and accordion spine (to be folded).
Using a wooden tool designed for ceramics to assist in folding.
Cutting up treasures to create more treasures!
Adding personal writing.
Writing in a personally created language and alphabet!
Adding maps.
Using origami paper, and origami methods!
Here’s to the black, white and brown!
Creatively employing the exhibition postcard as book covers.
A beautiful marriage of image, text, design, art and craft!
The message of this piece says it all….
May it be so.
Creating the Fun and Fabulous Flag Book at the Brand!!!
I am thrilled to lead a fun and fabulous flag book workshop at the Brand Library and Art Center!!!
The Associates of Brand invite you to join us in a special event workshop to learn how to create a fun and fabulous Flag Book! You will combine art, craft, bookmaking and creative writing in a paper-based project inspired by the Brand 51: Annual National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper, now on view in the Gallery at the Brand Library and Art Center in Glendale!
Learn how to make the versatile accordion fold and combine image and text in a way that allows you to become author, artist, designer and writer in one fell swoop!
Workshop leader and Brand 51 artist Debra Disman is known for her work inspired by the book. As both maker and teaching artist, she invites you to explore the book as art by mixing media and materials to express yourself and invite new ways of viewing the world and how we inhabit it.
When: Saturday, August 12, 2023
11 am-12:30 pm
Where: Brand Library & Art Center
1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale
Who: Free and open to people of all ages
We ask that children be 6 years old and above and accompanied by an adult
How: Limited to the 25 participants
RSVP to Debra Thompson, President of the Associates by August 10
“We Write The Book” Artist Residency Begins at the Canoga Park Branch Library!
We “kicked off” our “We Write the Book” artist residency at the Canoga Park Branch Library on July 18, 2023 with an accordion-fold book workshop (“Program” in library parlance)!
The series, 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!
Participants from children to teens to families to seniors learned how to create the accordion fold book structure and add pockets, then develop their books with a variety of decorative and print materials to make them their own. A good time was had by all, as those attending learned new skills, socialized and inspired each other with their book creations!
Even the Librarians got into the act!
Bookmaking at the Community Corporation of Santa Monica With 18th Street Arts Center!
I had the wonderful opportunity to lead a bookmaking workshop through 18th Street Arts Center for the Community Corporation of Santa Monica at one of their residential buildings.
Supported by the magical Leigh Ann Hahn and intern Ning Sun, I taught an engaging and creative group how to create the “Folded Fan Book” structure, and encouraged them to make their project their own through conceptual development and adornment, utilizing a marvelous array of decorative papers, stickers and leveraging their own imaginations!
