Debra Disman

Artist

Stitching

NEW WORK in 2021: “Forest Through The Trees”

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I was happy to finally be able to have Elon Schoenholz Photography in to photograph works completed during 2021… fast away the old year passes…

Here I share “Forest through The Trees“, 15 x 42 x 12”, made of book board, canvas, hemp cord, ribbon, typewriter ribbon, acrylic paint, wood.
It is part of a monochrome series in black, through the colors of “black” are infinite, and change with light, material, juxtaposition, and how the viewer engages with the piece.

Comprised of two accordion-folded “spines”, the “book”, becomes a “box”, with a “door” that opens, expandable “walls”, and  painted canvas “pages” held up precariously with wooden dowels. The piece can be presented and contemplated in numerous ways, and begs a tactile connection, through all of us working in book, and perhaps sculptural forms in general grapple with how to do this.  How to have viewers engage with the work, participate in it, without having it worn away over time in the process…

We are seekers.
The Journey continues.

Happy New Year.

(exterior, closed)

(exterior, ajar)

(interior/exterior, open)

NEW WORK in 2021: Red Notebook (“Here’s To The Red, White and Blue”)

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I was happy to finally be able to have Elon Schoenholz Photography in to photographs works completed/created during 2021, which continues to race by.

Part of an ensemble, suite, or installation of works entitled, “Here’s To The Red, White and Blue”, Red Notebook is structured as a “traditional” codex, with covers that open and pages that turn.  Moderately, “red” (hence the “red” element of the “Red, White and Blue” theme-meme-trope?) it contains a great deal of black as well.
In the immortal words of  Mark Rothko, “There is only one thing I fear in life, my friend;  One day, the black will swallow the red.”

Made from a repurposed placemat, hemp cord, linen thread, canvas, and lace, it is 8.5″ high, 12.5″ when opened in full, and 6.5″ at greatest depth and opens left to right, from cover through pages to cover, bound together through a single signature.


The red and back play off each other in all their associations


Sewing, stitching, gluing, knotting, coiling, massing


Amassing, accumulation, the RED in


Up next.

“drift” over to the Brand

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I am thrilled to participate in the exhibition
Brand 49 Annual National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper,

September 11 – October 30, 2021, showing a  collaborative artist book work created with contemporary  artist Luciana Abait, entitled, “drift“. The piece highlights the effect humans are having on our precious and fragile environment, specifically, the melting of the polar icecaps in Antarctica. 

Juror of Brand 49 is  Marvella Muro, Director of Artistic Programs and Education at Self Help Graphics and Art (SHG) in Los Angeles. From it’s inception in 1973, Self Help Graphics has been nationally known for functioning at the intersection of the arts and social justice. Providing a home that fosters the creativity and development of local artists, it is the pre-eminent center for Latinx printmaking and a resource for young and emerging artists.

Brand 49 is organized by the Associates of Brand Library & Art Center, an all volunteer non-profit that raises funds to support the extensive free and public events at Brand including gallery exhibitions, classical and popular music performances, film screenings, dance performances, and activities for people of all ages.

See a video of

Watch a video of “drift” and see it in detail, then visit it, and see all the wonderful works employing paper at:

The Brand Library and Art Center
1601 West Mountain Street
Glendale, CA 91201 United States + Google Map
Phone: (818) 548-2051
Website: https://www.brandlibrary.org/


Thank you for stopping by, we hope seeing “drift” inspired thought, consideration and contemplation. Enjoy the show!

Exhibitionista: Brand 49: the Annual National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper

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 I am thrilled to participate in the exhibition: Brand 49, the Brand Associates Annual National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper, happening September 11 – October 30, 2021, represented by a collaborative artist book work created with contemporary  artist Luciana Abait, entitled, “drift“. The piece highlights the effect humans are having on our precious and fragile environment, specifically, the melting of the polar icecaps in Antarctica. 

Brand 49 welcomes Marvella Muro, Director of Artistic Programs and Education at Self Help Graphics and Art (SHG) in Los Angeles, as this year’s juror. From it’s inception in 1973, Self Help Graphics has been nationally known for functioning at the intersection of the arts and social justice. Providing a home that fosters the creativity and development of local artists, it is the pre-eminent center for Latinx printmaking and a resource for young and emerging artists.

Brand 49 is organized by the Associates of Brand Library & Art Center, an all volunteer non-profit that raises funds to support the extensive free and public events at Brand including gallery exhibitions, classical and popular music performances, film screenings, dance performances, and activities for people of all ages.

Exhibitionista: Small Works at Vanessa Lacy Gallery

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I am thrilled to be part of the 3rd Annual Spring Small Works show at the Vanessa Lacey Gallery.

The 3rd Annual Spring Small Works Show Virtual Edition at Vanessa Lacy Gallery is now live!  Browse affordable art under 14 inches from the comfort of your own home.

Vanessa Lacey chose works she felt would be uplifting to the viewers.

I am showing Narrow Bridge, a flag book made of board, tissue paper, window shade material, linen thread, and collage.


Outside, Front Cover

Inside, it says in stitching:
“The Whole World is A Narrow Bridge
The Important Thing Is Not To Fear”


Exterior
The book is comprised of an accordion-folded spine, with two covers, and flag pages attached to opposite sides of the folds, so that they create an alternating pattern when the book is opened.

A message of hope, assurance and our connectivity as human beings.

May you walk your own Narrow Bridge with hope and confidence and move through your own fears during this challenging time.

Stay Safe
Stay Well
Stay Sane