Debra Disman

Artist

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Sculptural Books

2018 California Open Exhibition

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I am honored to be included in the 2018 California Open Exhibition, juried by beloved and renowned Los Angeles-based artist, Kim Abeles and held at TAG GALLERY in Los Angeles from August 8 – 24, 2018.

I will be showing my piece:  “Throes of the Body”.

Here are the installation images and Press Release! CalOpen2018

Please join us for the Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony on Saturday August 11, 5 – 8 PM at TAG GALLERY.

Exhibit: August 8 – 24, 2018
Reception and Awards Ceremony:
Saturday, August 11, 2018   5 – 8 p.m.

 

 

Like White on White 

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Black and White? (II)

White on white…it never actually is. More like grades, permutations, layers…and levels.

What interest me.


“Hang Out“, (inside), 2017, 10.25″ x 25″ x 8”, Book board, mulberry paper, hemp cord, watercolor paper, canvas


“Profusion” / “In the Profusion“, (inside), 2018, 8.75″ x 24.5″ x 7.75” Book board, mulberry paper, hemp cord, watercolor paper, canvas


“Throes of the Body“, 2018, 13″ x 27″ x 10.25”, (outside),Book board, mulberry paper, hemp cord, watercolor paper, canvas

Moving towards the deeper exploration.

in the BLACK

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Black and White? (I)

Working in whites and tones of white and white on white…I wanted to see what all BLACK would render.

Here we go…

Black Hang Out, 2017
Book board, canvas, hemp cord, watercolor paper, acrylic paint

Maximum Security, 2018
Book board, canvas, hemp cord, watercolor paper, ink, acrylic paint, wood

In the Thicket of It, 2018
Book board, canvas, hemp cord, watercolor paper, acrylic paint, wood

Night time. Mystery. Enticing. Forbidding. Absolute. Lost. Found. Again.

Continuing.

The Book as Art v6.0: Pulp

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I am honored to have two pieces in this upcoming exhibition:

The Book as Art v6.0: Pulp
the Book As Art 2018
August 10–September 28 | open during library hours
The Periodicals Gallery of the Decatur Library
215 Sycamore St., Decatur, Ga.

Artist books take many forms – from handmade and lusciously tactile to linear and informative, abstract and questioning to sculptural and monumental. This juried show celebrates the book with a wildly varied collection of inventive and spectacular work that challenges expectations.

This is an exhibition that has been described by critics as, “wildly eclectic” and finding “. . . new and often startling ways to reimagine not just the physical format of a book but also the ideological essence of the content.” (ArtsATL, “Year in Review,” Dec. 31, 2014); approaching “sheer aesthetic magic” (Jerry Cullum, ArtsATL, “Books Become Magical Objects, Aug. 28, 2013); and with examples that “. . .push boundaries and challenge expectations in ways that are both startling and exhilarating.” (Jeff Stafford, Burnaway, “Art as Books, Books as Art,” Aug. 25, 2014)

NEW WORKS Show at 1450 Ocean

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NEW WORKS Show at 1450 Ocean

April 14, 2018.

Textile artist Huong Nguyen and I shared our work with the Public at the Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean in Santa Monica.

It was a wonderful round-up of our Studio Residency activities which took place January through April, 2018.

This post is a “send-off” of sorts to the Residency, which had a profound impact upon me, my work, and Life. Thank you, 1450 Ocean….

A tour around the Studio, as we prepare for our Show.

The spaciousness of space…tables for materials, and visual reminders, inspirations and cues.


The “spinning book” moved around.


Beautiful light off the Ocean flooded the glassed-in Studio.


I finished, if there is such a thing, filling my “sketch” book here.


“Rapunzel“, Book board,  mulberry paper, linen thread, gold thread, untreated canvas; “Window Treatment“, Book board,  file folders, hemp cord, watercolor paper, mulberry paper, acrylic paint, waxes.


“The Fall“, Board, untreated canvas, hemp cord, watercolor paper, mulberry paper.


“Throes of the Body“, Book board, untreated canvas, hemp cord, watercolor paper, mulberry paper.


“In the Profusion“, Book board, untreated canvas, hemp cord, watercolor paper, mulberry paper.


“Burning Bush“, Board, thread, linen thread, dental floss, mulberry paper.


“BedTime Story I”, Book board, wood, fabric, hemp cord, watercolor paper, incorporating tiny ceramic “masks, made by my Mom, the ceramicist Judy Disman.
Mom, it was great to work with you.

Pathways to the next Thing.
We are Travelers.

 

 

 

 

 

In Resonant Residence (14)

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In Resonant Residence (14)

I formally began Studio Residency at the Camera Obscura Art Lab

in Santa Monica Wednesday January 10th, and completed it Saturday, April 21, 2018.  I shared the sunlit space, located within a beautiful Mid-century building overlooking Palisades Park, Santa Monica Beach and the blue Pacific with textile artist and fellow Studio Artist-in-Residence Huong Nguyen.
“About the Art Lab and Camera Obscura

1450 Exterior
Vintage Camera Obscura
 
 
 
 
Step inside the Camera Obscura Art Lab and you’ll find a welcoming space with fantastic views of Santa Monica Bay and the Pier. The Camera is located in a midcentury time capsule in Palisades Park between Broadway and Santa Monica Blvd on what was once the site of the Pacific Electric Railway’s North Beach Station. Designed by noted architect Weldon J. Fulton (who’s work can be found around town including the classic Camera Obscura sign and font, the Montana and Fairview branch libraries, and the former Zucky’s building on Wilshire Blvd), the building’s exterior features walls clad in chunky Palos Verdes stone, glass walls, sloping roofs, and projecting canopies and rafter beams. It was donated to the City of Santa Monica by Marcellus Joslyn in 1955.”

The huge studio windows look out on palms, walkways and a huge assortment of passers by, strollers, park wanderers and beach combers. The Studio is a magical place to work.

My thirteenth workshop, April 7, 2018, Creating Sculptural Books offered participants an opportunity to walk a bit on the wilder side, and create something new while learning some skills in the process.

We began by constructing what I call the “fan book” structure…an accordion folded spine, with front and back covers, and pages added to the same side of each fold.

It is a version of the flag book, invented by renowned book artist Hedi Kyle, but employs full-sized pages that fan out from the spine in the same direction, rather then the zig zig alternating pattern of the endlessly inventive flag book.

Then folks added to that structure, used it as a jumping off point if you will.

Others focused more specifically on embellishment…this was the way “in” for them.

Book artist Rachel Curry made a big “traditional” flag book, and adorned it with patterns using paint pens.

Step-by-step into new territory, in a safe space.

Ingredients for discovery.