Debra Disman

Artist

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New Year

Upcoming Exhibitions 2025

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I am excited to start off the new year with two exhibitions, and appreciate the opportunity to share and commune with others, near and far.

DWELLINGS: An Exhibition of Inhabited Spaces
January 2 – February 2, 2025 at


I am thrilled to participate in the exhibition: “DWELLINGS: An Exhibition of Inhabited Spaces” at ARTLINK, at the Auer Center for Arts and Culture, Fort Wayne, Indiana. I love to get my work involved in events and shows all across the country and in areas not considered major art centers, and off the edges of the US. I find the commitment and caliber of shows, curators/jurors, artists and work to be audacious and  inspiring on all fronts. “For the exhibition DWELLINGS, juried Steve Garst, Artlink invited artists to submit works of any media that involve homes, shelters, forts, nests, burrows, or any other forms of inhabited space used by humans or non-humans. Where a creature lays its head can be a place of refuge, sustenance, and identity.  They are cauldrons of growth, filled with love, hurt, anger, learning, and memory.  Often, homes are constructed and, in turn, end up constructing the lives of those who dwell within them, for better or worse.  Artlink is excited to offer an exhibition exploring the variety of human and non-human places that serve as home, in all its numerous manifestations.” I am showing “Window Treatment”

Window Treatment, 2018, 13 x 38 x 9.25″, mixed media

VIEW THE SHOW HERE!

and close upon DWELLINGS,

The 2025 LA OPEN, at TAG Gallery in Los Angeles
January 8 – February 24, 2025

I am thrilled to show two works in this fun and fantastic annual show!

The Body Politic: Black and Gold, 2024, 8.5 x 23 x 7″, book board, paint, canvas, metal leaf, lace, cord, netting, trim, beads

Hopes and Fears and…, 2020, 24.5 x 16.25″, textile samples, linen thread

View the SHOW here!

Illustrious JUROR: Genie Davis 
Genie Davis is a writer who loves and writes about art as well as a wide range of other subjects as a journalist, biographer, novelist, and WGA-W screen and television writer. You can see her written work in the arts on her own www.diversionsLA.com as well as in past publications of Artillery, Art & Cake, Art Scene, Fabrik, and Riot Material.
She is the curator of 2023’s Leaving Eden, a two-person thematic exhibition at Keystone Art Space; September 2024’s Thresholds, a small group exhibition at Gallery of Hermosa; and upcoming in March 2025, the international exhibition Windswept at Wonzimer Gallery.

Here’s to meeting and marching into the New Year, with courage, bravery, heart and honesty, as much as we can…

 

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!

“Be Our Valentine” at the Canoga Park Library!

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Join Us To Create Your Own Special Valentine’s Day Gift or Card!

Add beautiful materials to personalize your Valentine for yourself, or that special someone!

All materials included.
Part of my residency “We Write the Book” at the Canoga Park Branch Library, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs!

Get Ready for the New Year at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

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JOIN US!

Learn How to Create an Organizer Book with Pockets to Welcome the New Year and Get You Started in 2024!
All Materials Included.
Supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs!
Date(s):
Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Time:
11 a.m.

Location:
Canoga Park Branch Library

Type:
In Person

Audience:|
EVERYONE!!!!
Kids, Adults

Category:
Arts, Crafts & Hobbies

Description:
Start the New Year right by learning to create a fun book in which you can store holiday memories and plan for the future.  All materials provided.

This program is supported in part by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

For ADA accommodations, call (213) 228-7430 at least 72 hours prior to the event.

Para ajustes razonables según la ley de ADA, llama al (213) 228-7430 al menos 72 horas antes del evento.

Visioning the New Year with the Panorama Branch Library

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In December, 2021, we completed our  2021-22 Artist Residency in bookmaking  at the the Panorama City Branch Library, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

I say “we” rather than “I”, as this was a team effort with the Library Staff, and of course, the DCA, always supportive!

During our residency “CULMINATION EVENT” participants created “Vision Journals” to welcome the New Year, and help them set intentions and goals for 2022.

Our online event was well-attended, fun and inspiring.
A wonderful way to complete the Residency, the year, and gather our strength, resiliency, hope, imagination and creativity to move into 2022!

MOON BOOK: Bookmaking for the Winter Solstice!

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Moon, Luna, Lunar
It was an honor to lead a special bookmaking workshop through my Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs artist residency at the West Valley Regional Branch Library to welcome and celebrate the Winter Solstice on December 21st, 2021!
We focused on the MOON.

Our participants of assorted ages, cultural backgrounds and experience levels created “Moon Books”, exploring the meaning, metaphor and movement (or phases) of the Moon, inspired by this rich theme, their materials, and the fun and  comfort of creating in community!

The results were inspiring too, investigating, celebrating and exploring the moon in (her) many facets through science/astronomy, story and the elements and materials of visual art: line, shape, color; collaged together into (folded and glued) book form.

 

An inspiring time had by all, including the participating Library staff and myself, teaching and supporting this program! We are always inspired by our participating makers, learners and sharers!