Debra Disman

Artist

  •

Sculptural Books

“FORMATION”: The Guild of Book Workers 2018-2019 Traveling Juried Exhibition

By

“FORMATION”: The Guild of Book Workers 2018-2019 Traveling Juried Exhibition

I am extremely honored to have two pieces in FORMATION, The Guild of Book Workers 2018-2019 traveling juried exhibition, with a theme evoking a wide array of interpretations.

Simply defined by Merriam Webster as “an act of giving form or shape to something,” ‘formation‘ can insinuate process, history, creation, change, beginnings, an arrangement, botany and landscape, personal narratives and impersonal storytelling. As artists, designers and craftspeople with our own histories that form us, we also play a vital role in the formation of objects and experiences; pulp molded into paper, paper folded into books, books shelved into a library.

What is the final product, if not for the methods used to create it? What makes us into the artists we are? What pushes us to continue to create?

Exhibition Schedule:

Minnesota Center for Book Arts
Minneapolis, MN
June 15–October 21, 2018

Robert C. Williams Papermaking Museum
Atlanta, GA
November 1, 2018–March 7, 2019

University of California, Los Angeles
Charles E. Young Research Library Lobby Gallery
Los Angeles, CA
March 15–May 25, 2019

North Bennet Street School
Boston, MA
June 5–July 27, 2019

University of the Arts
Philadelphia, PA
August 1–October 30, 2019

Debra Disman and Huong Nguyen: New Works

By

Debra Disman and Huong Nguyen: New Works

 

Join us for the culminating exhibition of studio residents Debra Disman and Huong Nguyen, showing new works in fabric and paper. Debra Disman and Huong Nguyen are sharing the Camera Obscura Art Lab Studio space during their simultaneous residency, which spans January 10 to April 18, 2018.

Creating Sculptural Books with Debra Disman

By

Creating Sculptural Books with Debra Disman

Create a book that stands on its own as a piece of sculpture, and pushes the very idea of ‘the book’ into new territory. Using new, found, natural and recycled materials you will put together a book that can be cut, built onto, stitched, textured, painted, covered and otherwise transformed into your private universe!

In Resonant Residence (1)

By

In Resonant Residence (1)

I formally began Studio Residency at the Camera Obscura Art Lab


in Santa Monica Wednesday January 10th.  I share the sunlit space, located within the 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.


We will both teach weekly public workshops on Saturdays as a key component of our 14 week residencies.


I will be teaching “Flag Books and Found Writing” Saturday January 13th as my first workshop…looking forward to this.


At 1450 Ocean, I was greeted by glass doors and gleaming floors…


and gorgeous views of rainy park and sea. Getting ready here to set up shop.


Handmade papers may find their way into something.


Resonant materials. The power of cloth. Texture. The tactile. Textiles. The haptic.


Haptic “sketchbook”…planning to complete its pages during the Residency.


I begin two pieces with watercolor paper, canvas, book board and wood, cont series of works that progressively investigate the emotional, sensory and evocative aspects of texture, textiles, cloth, fiber, cord and string in book format. Through these works i aim to  the very nature of the book as object, communicative tool and form of expression.


Accordion spine of watercolor paper, and book board.


Experimenting with Baltic Birch plywood covers.


“The Sheltering Book‘, about to transform into “The Big Beach Book”…this metamorphosis  to be enacted in part by workshop participants!

Grateful, honored and  thrilled to be part of this process…moving forward.