Debra Disman

Artist

Older Adults

“CRAFTING MEMORIES”

By

“Crafting Memories: An Online Bookmaking Workshop Series is specifically designed by Craft Contemporary and artist Debra Disman for adults over the age of 55. This program is made possible by funding from Aroha Philanthropies and is part of a nationwide campaign to bring thoughtful and specialized programs to a valuable population that is often undeserved by arts institutions. 

For this special program, participants learned a variety of basic and experimental bookmaking techniques used to tell their own stories through materials and the handmade. The goal of this workshop series was to create a space to explore our stories through book forms and to express our creativity by bringing together an extensive number of materials, mementos, and memories collected through our lives.”

It has been my great joy to teach the AROHA Bookmaking classes for Seniors through Craft Contemporary. I have been so moved to hear and see our participants’ stories expressed through their book projects, and to witness their extraordinary creativity with materials, expression, and craft. The opportunity for these students to come together, share about their lives, and weave their personal histories into their projects has been so meaningful, not only for the students, but for myself and the Craft Contemporary Staff. I have been continually amazed at the richness and depth of our participants’ life experiences and their hunger to share them with others.

See the fabulous website page on the Craft Contemporary website featuring the amazing works of our talented participants HERE!

See their handmade books and read about what gathering online to learn new skills and create together meant to each of them!

You won’t forget your visit!

Watch AROHA Philanthropies: CREATIVE AGING in Action!

By

I have been so honored to participate in AROHA Philanthropies Creative Aging initiative, and to work  with  with LA’s beloved Craft Contemporary museum, Curator of Public Engagment Andres Payan Estrada, and Museum Director, Suzanne Isken.

It has been my great joy to teach the AROHA Bookmaking classes for Seniors through Craft Contemporary. I have been so moved to hear and see our participants’ stories expressed through their book projects, and to witness their extraordinary creativity with materials, expression and craft. The opportunity for these students to come together, share about their lives, and weave their personal histories into their projects has been so meaningful, not only for the students, but for myself and the Craft Contemporary Staff. I have been continually amazed at the richness and depth of our participants’ life experiences and their hunger to share them with others.

Our spring workshop series in bookmaking was held in-person, at the Craft Contemporary. When the pandemic hit, we had to pivot to online learning and delivery, and despite the inevidable challenges, our online class community proved to be just as creative, supportive, connective and energetic as our in-person group. An incredible and indelible experience that I will carry with me moving forward.

Russ Haan, owner of After Hours Creative, directed the creation of the following videos sharing about and documenting the process of AROHA’s programming. They are inspiring, moving and energizing to watch. ENJOY!
Creative Aging: The Essentials
Creative Aging: Why Teaching Artists?
Creative Aging: Untapped Opportunity
Creative Aging: Isolation to Connection
Creative Aging: In-Person to Online 

CRAFTING HISTORIES online

By

It has been an honor to work with Craft Contemporary to lead:

CRAFTING HISTORIES
Bookmaking Online Workshop 

“The Art of the Book: Crafting Our Stories By Hand is an online workshop series specifically designed by Craft Contemporary and artist Debra Disman for adults over the age of 55. This program is made possible by funding from Aroha Philanthropies and is part of a nationwide campaign to bring thoughtful and specialized programs to a valuable population that is often undeserved by arts institutions.

Workshop participants were introduced to ideas of storytelling through materials and the handmade. They were encouraged to tell their own stories using paper and everyday materials, while exploring what the term book means, why books are important, and how they have functioned through time and culture.”

See our extraordinary participants and their work here….and prepare to be amazed.

 

Friday Bookmakers Inspiration! We Stand (Sit?!) Together, Making Books! (9)

By

I  have been honored to work with a wonderful group of “older adults” at the Craft Contemporary Museum in Los Angeles, offering a series of workshops teaching bookmaking techniques, and providing a forum for creativity, imagination, sharing and story.

The remainder of our series, “Crafting Our Stories By Hand”, supported by the Aroha Philanthropies, has had to be postponed due Covid-19.

Therefore, I have started an email newsletter to keep our community going, offering tips, images and sharing the work these makers are doing at home while “sheltering in place”.

Sharing these newsletters as a blog post makes their contents available for any and all. It inspiring to see what these makers have done and are doing during these crazy times.

Special thanks to the incomparable Andres Payan, for his support of the older adults makers program and facilitation of our ZOOM gatherings, as well as his devotion to the community in his role of Curator of Public Engagement at Craft Contemporary.  Thank you for this opportunity! 

And now, on to more Good Stuff!

Two books made by Sandra this week! 

Sandra shared again during our ZOOM gathering about using THE ART OF THE FOLD book
by Hedi Kyle and her daughter Ulla Warchol!

 Sandra says: “First one is a blizzard book (for business cards).”

She adds, “Second one is a panorama book.”

Here are Vicki’s new books, gorgeous!
And, Vicki is on INSTAGRAM, sharing her collage works: check it out, 
and consider starting an Instagram account of your own, as Sandra is!

Here is a book by Vicki  for her granddaughter, sharing about vocabulary describing groups of different birds!
 
The next has pockets for treasures! Business cards?

Finally, these little gems:


For all those who are photographing their works,  I want to suggest that you use a more neutral background, in contrast to the colors in your work.
You can see above, it is harder to see the red books against a red background.
Try using white, or even gray. Possibly black if you have a lot of color in a work, and not a lot of black.
Try using just one color for the background.


Dear Bookmakers, Makers,  Readers, All,

If you are able, and so inclined, use the comments section to share something book-related, or anything of interest you wish. Check out all the other “Friday Bookmakers Inspiration! We Stand (Sit?!) Together, Making Books!” blog posts, right here.
Stay Safe, Stay Strong, Stay Well, Stay Sane,
STAY CREATIVE!
And as Sandra says,
“Craft on!”

In hope and gratitude,
debra

Friday Bookmakers Inspiration! We Stand (Sit?!) Together, Making Books! (8)

By

I have been honored to work with a wonderful group of “older adults” at the Craft Contemporary Museum in Los Angeles, offering a series of workshops teaching bookmaking techniques, and providing a forum for creativity, imagination, sharing and story.

The remainder of our series, “Crafting Our Stories By Hand”, supported by the Aroha Philanthropies, has had to be postponed due Covid-19.

Therefore, I have started an email newsletter to keep our community going, offering tips, images and sharing the work these makers are doing at home while “sheltering in place”.

Sharing these newsletters as a blog post makes their contents available for any and all. It inspiring to see what these makers have done and are doing during these crazy times.

And now, on to one of our very productive student/artist/bookmakers SANDRA!
She says….“I purchased this book online — it presents projects that mostly use folding vs. sewing.”

This is a book by book artist Hedi Kyle, who invented the fun flag book structure we did in our class, and her daughter Ulla Warchol.
I happen to know this book can be found through the Los Angeles County Library System!

Sandra created two fabulous books this week, apparently inspired by her exploration of “The Art of the Fold“!
She says, “So for my eye chart book I tried their interlocking loop book. A relative of the flag book but using one piece of paper to create the loops (not separate flags).”
  
So creative…the use of the eye charts and images of the eyes themselves!
Sandra continues, “For my second book I returned to your flag book project using cut-up postcards as the flags. Still love this structure!” 

Such a great use for new postcards, giving them new life, and purpose!Well that is it for this week dear Bookmakers, Makers,  Readers, All.
If you are able, and so inclined, use the comments section to share something book-related, or anything of interest you wish. Check out all the other “Friday Bookmakers Inspiration! We Stand (Sit?!) Together, Making Books!” blog posts, right here.

Stay Safe, Stay Strong, Stay Well, Stay Sane,
STAY CREATIVE!
And as Sandra says,
“Craft on!”

In hope and gratitude, 
debra

Friday Bookmakers Inspiration! We Stand (Sit?!) Together, Making Books! (7)

By

I have been honored to work with a wonderful group of “older adults” at the Craft Contemporary Museum in Los Angeles, offering a series of workshops teaching bookmaking techniques, and providing a forum for creativity, imagination, sharing and story.

The remainder of our series, “Crafting Our Stories By Hand” has had to be postponed due covid19.

Therefore, I have started an email newsletter to keep our community going, offering tips, images and sharing the work these makers are doing at home while “sheltering in place”.

Sharing these newsletters as a blog post makes their contents available for any and all. It inspiring to see what these makers have done and are doing during these crazy times.

Dear Readers, Bookmakers, All,

I am happy to bring you images, tips, inspiration and learning for your bookmaking journey.

I hope you are all well, staying safe, and creating!
You might want to check out the “Crafting Our Stories By Hand” blog post below…it holds wonderful photos of you all taken during our workshops at the Museum. So photogenic you all are (as Yoda would say!)
 
Also, you can check out all of our weekly newsletters in blog version here:

https://debradisman.com/blog/

This week, we have Vicki sharing a circle book! Fun, whimsical, and what a great challenge to put to oneself!
She says, 

“Took a on-line class from book maker Kit Davey.  This circle book was made with double sided paper.  If you enjoy origami I think you would enjoy making this book.” (I added in the link if anyone wants to further explore artist Kit Davey.)

WOW!
 
Sandra created two glorious books, and she says,

“The first book is a simple blank book on cardboard. I watched an online tutorial from The Broad aimed at children — to create their own artwork in the manner of Mark Bradford. So that’s what I did for the covers. Just layered paper scraps, sanded them, then layered some more, and repeat. Just joined pages with copper wire rings.”(I added in the link if anyone wants to further explore artist Mark Bradford.)

My second book was supposed to be based on a winged book from the Alisa Golden book. I deconstructed an Ed Kienholz catalog and reconstructed it. The only difference between mine and the winged book is that I didn’t glue the connecting pages together — because I liked the triangular aspect. I made a little belly band out of an interior translucent page.(I added in the links if anyone wants to further explore artists Alisa Golden and  Ed Kienholz.)

Well that is it for this week dear Readers, Bookmakers, All,
If you are able, and so inclined, email us back to share something book-related, or anything of interest you wish.

Stay Safe, Stay Strong, Stay Well, Stay Sane
STAY CREATIVE!
And as Sandra says,
“Craft on!