Debra Disman

Artist

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Sewn Books

Creating Sidebound Books in honor of Dia de los Ninos: International Children’s Day!

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Artist-in-Residence Debra Disman will lead a workshop that focuses on making a Sidebound Book in celebration of Dia de los Ninos: International Children’s and Book Day! This workshop is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), commonly known as Día, is a celebration every day of children, families, and reading that culminates yearly on April 30. … It is a daily commitment to linking children and their families to diverse books, languages and cultures.

Envelope Book Workshop

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Artist-in-Residence Debra Disman will lead a “Envelope Bookmaking” workshop!

Learn to create a book that can be sent through the mail…snail mail!
Create heartfelt gifts and cards, and develop your own content while learning new skills.

All are welcome!

This workshop is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Freedom of Expression and More…

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It has been exciting to lead programs at the Granada Hills Branch Library of the LAPL, as part of  my Artist Residency there:  “We Write the Book“, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and freedom in all its forms, participants created “single signature” sewn  and glued books, and then used their Freedom of Expression to develop and embellish the covers. A “signature” is a gathering of folded sheets that create pages for a book. Single signature bookbinding refers to a group of sheets (usually paper)  folded in the middle and bound together through sewing through their folds.

Although our program was originally planned for teens and “tweens”, several families attended including a number of dads with children. We had a wonderful time!


Sister and brother enjoy the delight of adding to their books after working step by step sewing and gluing to create them.


The glory of patterns. This young participant is age 3!


She attended with her mother.


In the background, mom and dad look on, taking a well-deserved break and enjoying the fun from the sidelines as their children worked and played.


Father offers support and presence to his son.


Our fearless leader, Branch Manager Pam, enjoys some creative “play” time, adding washi (decorative paper) tape to her book.

There is something very satisfying about hand-sewing a book together. It feels real…permanent. The work of our hands on a whole other level.
Hopefully, these books will continue to be developed at home, and most importantly, used!

 

Envelope Book with Debra Disman

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Envelope Book with Debra Disman

Use folding and sewing methods to create a book that can be sent in the mail! Write a note to a stranger and add it to the Big Beach Book onsite, or take home to write your next letter. You can create accordion folded pages that pop out to surprise the recipient, or sew in signature pages that can be turned.

Simple Sewn Booklets with Debra Disman

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Simple Sewn Booklets with Debra Disman

Join us for public workshops in bookmaking and more at the Camera Obscura Art Lab at 1450 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica!

These workshops are being offered as part of my Studio Residency at the Art Lab, January 13-April 14, 2018! I will be creating and teaching in the beautiful Mid-century building that houses the Art Lab, overlooking Santa Monica Beach and the blue Pacific.

Create a single signature (a gathering of folded pages) book with a simple binding. Create texture by adding cloth, papers and natural materials to the covers. Come away with a unique sewn book to use as a notebook, sketchbook, journal or gift!