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Debra Disman

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Online learning

“CRAFTING MEMORIES”

October 11, 2021 By Debra Disman

“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!

Filed Under: Artists' Books, BOOKS, Presentations, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: Adults over age 55, Aging and Creativity, Andres Payan, Andres Payan Estrada, Aroha Philanthropies, Art Programs for Seniors, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Bookmaking, Bookmaking online, Craft Contemporary, Craft Contemporary Museum, Creative Aging, Distance learning, Handmade Books, Older Adults, Online Art programs, Online learning, Russ Haan, Seniors, Suzanne Iksen, Teaching Artist, Teaching Artists, Vitlity Arts

Watch AROHA Philanthropies: CREATIVE AGING in Action!

January 22, 2021 By Debra Disman

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 

Filed Under: ARTISTS, Artists' Books, BOOKS, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: Adults over age 55, After Hours Creative, Andres Payan, Andres Payan Estrada, Aroha Philanthropies, Art Programs for Seniors, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Bookmaking, Craft Contemporary, Craft Contemporary Museum, Creative Aging, Distance learning, Handmade Books, LACMA, los Angeles County Museum of Art, Older Adults, Online Art programs, Online learning, Russ Haan, Seniors, Suzanne Iksen, Teaching Artist, Teaching Artists

Preparing for: Crafting our Stories By Hand Online

August 5, 2020 By Debra Disman

I am thrilled to be preparing to teach:
The Art of the Book: Crafting Our Stories By Hand  ONLINE!


Visual Feast…Eye Candy…Material World

Crafting Histories: Bookmaking with Debra Disman –  an Online Workshop Series


Colorful packets of bookmaking materials

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.We invite you to register for this cycle’s participant cohort. This 8-session bookmaking series taught by artist Debra Disman will meet through the online platform Zoom, every Friday at 11am – 1pm. Starting August 7 through September 18, 2020. The program will conclude with a final presentation and discussion of works and experiences, participants will also be provided a group document and online presence to share their work with friends and family.


Hemp cord and prepped book pages and covers for sewn book structures, bright tagboard for folded and glued book forms.

Objective: Learn how to create folded, glued and sewn book structures. Learn how to use bookmaking as an expressive vehicle for communication. Learn to share stories through the medium of bookmaking

Participants will be introduced to ideas of storytelling through materials and the handmade. We will explore what the term book means, why books are important, and how they have functioned through time and culture.


Andres‘s helping hands and design eye

Orientation: Friday, August 7
Session 1: Friday, August 14
Session 2: Friday, August 21
Session 3: Friday, August 28
Session 4: Friday, September 4
Session 5: Friday, September 11
Critique & Wrap-up: Friday, September 18
Culminating Event: Friday, September 25

Andres Payan Estrada, Curator of Public Engagement at Craft Contemporary in action, prepping materials packets for participants.

Filed Under: Artists' Books, BOOKS, Student Work, Teaching Artist Tagged With: Andres Payan, Andres Payan Estradfa, Aroha Philanthropies, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Book Arts, Bookmaking, Community Artmaking, Craft Contemporary, Craft Contemporary Museum, Crafting Our Stories By Hand, Debra Disman, Handmade Books, HEMP CORD, Older Adyults, ONE-OF-A-KIND HANDMADE BOOKS, Online Art programs, Online Art Workshops for Seniors, Online Bookmaking, Online learning, Seniors, Seniors making Books, Story, Story making, The Art of the Book, The Art of the Book: Crafting Our Stories By Hand, TTagboard

Learning Online: Making a Rainbow

July 7, 2020 By Debra Disman

I have been honored to serve as Artist in Residence at the Granada Hills Branch Library, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

In concert with the Library Staff I created several online bookmaking workshop presentations, including, below:

Learn a colorful technique and create a Rainbow Book Ball, Rainbow Arm Band and Rainbow Collage

In Honor of LGBTQ Pride Month: June

Explore, learn, play, enjoy  All Things Rainbow!

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, BOOKS, Teaching Artist Tagged With: "We Write The Book", Artist Residency Culmination Program, Bookmaking, Books you can make yourself, CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, Community Arts, COMMUNITY BOOKMAKING, Culmination Event, Distance learning, Family Bookmaking, Flag Book, Granada Hills Branch Library, Handmade Books, LAPL, Online learning, Teaching Artist, THE LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM

Learning Online: “We Write The Book”

July 7, 2020 By Debra Disman

I have been honored to serve as Artist in Residence at the Granada Hills Branch Library, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

To celebrate our Residency Project, “We Write the Book“, I created a tour through our process and projects which you can view in the videos below.

Maybe you will be inspired to make your own book too!

Explore, learn, play, enjoy!

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Take a tour through the book projects taught in our “We Write the Book” Residency!

Filed Under: Artists' Books, BOOKS, Teaching Artist Tagged With: Books you can make yourself, Celebrate bookmaking!, CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, Community Arts, Community Celebration!, Culmination Event, Distance learning, Family Bookmaking, Flag Book, Granada Hills Branch Library, Handmade Books, LAPL, Online learning, Public Event, Teaching Artist, THE LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM

Learning Online: Storybook Theater

July 7, 2020 By Debra Disman

I have been honored to serve as Artist in Residence at the Granada Hills Branch Library, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

In concert with the Library Staff I created several online bookmaking workshop presentations, including, below:

Learn How To Make A “Storybook Theater”!

Combine books, stories and theater into one really fun project, and learn folding, cutting, gluing and collaging skills along the way!

Celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month, the month of May,  by creating stories and plays drawn from richness of these cultures!

Explore, learn, play, enjoy!

 

Filed Under: Artist in Residence, Artists' Books, BOOKS, Teaching Artist Tagged With: Asian Pacific Heritage, Asian/Pacific Heritage Month, Bookmaking, Books you can make yourself, CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, Community Arts, Distance learning, Family Bookmaking, Flag Book, Granada Hills Branch Library, Handmade Books, LAPL, Online learning, Storybook Theater, Teaching Artist, THE LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM

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