Debra Disman

Artist

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Sunland-Tujunga Library

From the Outside In: Artist Residency Culmination at the Sunland-Tujunga Library

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I have been honored to be an Artist-in-Residence at the Sunland-Tujunga Library, supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, conducting a series of bookmaking workshops for the community. As part of this Residency, I conducted two workshops at Verdugo Hills High School, for Freshman VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts Magnet) students.

I taught the fun and fascinating flag book structure, and the stellar English VAPA teacher Mrs. Leserman worked with the students in class between the workshops to develop their books.

To connect the project with her VAPA English Curriculum which included the study of J.D. Salinger‘s Catcher in the Rye,  she had the students develop the outsides of their books to reflect the ways they felt they were being seen, and how they wanted to be seen by the outside world, and then directed them to develop the inside flag pages to express how they actually felt on the inside.

On February 15th, we held a Residency Culmination event at the Library, featuring the  VAPA students OUTSIDE-INSIDE flag books. Viewers were intrigued and moved to see these revelatory books, which shared so much about their makers. Expressive, brave, unique,m beautiful, these works offer a glimpse into what it is to be a freshman in High School today.

Bravo.

 

Indeed.

Sunland-Tujunga: Artist Residency Culmination Event!

By

I have been honored to be an Artist-in-Residence at the Sunland-Tujunga Library, supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, conducting a series of bookmaking workshops for the community. As part of this Residency, I conducted two workshops at Verdugo Hills High School, for Freshman VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts Magnet) English students.

On February 15th, we held a Residency Culmination event at the Library, complete with bookmaking activities, refreshments, and an exhibition of hand-made books created by adults participating in the Library’s “Wide Open Reading” group, and VAPA students.

We had a blast!


Three bookmaking projects were running in the Community Room.


Mother and Daughter work side by side.


A member of the Library’s “Wide Open Reading” group stands by her handmade book.


Patiently creating detail with tiny butterfly shapes.


Another Mom and Daughter team…artists working together.


Young adult artist proudly shares her creations.

Young artist from the VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) magnet at neighboring Verdugo Hills High School and her flag book created in a two workshop series held in her freshman VAPA English class. The books contrasted how students wanted to present themselves and how they felt they were perceived on the outside (exterior book covers) with how they feel on the inside- the flag pages).

It has been very moving to see makers create and share works which reveal them on various levels.

Gratitudes!

From the Inside Out

By

I have been honored to be an Artist-in-Residence at the Sunland-Tujunga Library, supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, conducting a series of bookmaking workshops for the community. As part of this Residency, I conducted two workshops at Verdugo Hills High School, for Freshman VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts Magnet) students.

I taught the flag book structure, and the stellar English VAPA teacher Mrs. Leserman worked with the students in class between the workshops to develop their books.

To connect the project with her VAPA English Curriculum which included the study of J.D. Salinger‘s Catcher in the Rye,  she had the students develop the outsides of their books to reflect the ways they felt they were being seen, and how they wanted to be seen by the outside world, and then directed them to develop the inside flag pages to express how they actually felt on the inside.

The results were both moving and stunning.

Wide Open Bookmaking

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I have been honored to be an Artist-in-Residence at the Sunland-Tujunga Library, supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, conducting a series of bookmaking workshops for the community.

It was great fun to lead a bookmaking workshop in early February for a group that meets at the Library called, “Wide Open Reading”. What a wonderful-sounding activity!

Participants came together to create single signature sewn books, with pockets created by an “inner cover” or casing, and glued on covers. A

A creative time was had by all!

Participants learned about signatures (a gathering of folded pages that comprise the text block of a traditional western style codex book structure),

and sewed signatures that had been prepared for them into an inner cover, with folded pockets.

They then had a blast using all kinds of materials to develop, embellish and adorn their inside and outside covers, and even a few pages!

Camaraderie and interaction among the group is a big part of the fun.

And, of course, pride in the final (or not so final) “product”.

Wide Open Reading deserves wide open bookmaking, and the makers certainly achieved this.

Bravo!

Accordions, Books and Stories at the Sunland-Tujunga Branch Library

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I am honored to be an Artist-in-Residence at the Sunland-Tujunga Library, supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, conducting a series of bookmaking workshops for the community.

To kick off the new year and decade, I taught an accordion fold book with pockets workshop, and engaged families and individuals in creating their own books to hold memories, hopes, dreams, wishes and other treasures.


Participants folded prepared pastel paper into accordion pages and pockets.


and added covers, then developed content, embellished and decorated!


One young maker created a highly developed work telling the story of Little Red Riding Hood, in her own way.


Complete with text and illustrations.


Don’t forget the jewels!

Treasures to hold treasures to last a lifetime….

Happy 2020!

Books and Cookies

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I am honored to be an Artist-in-Residence at the Sunland-Tujunga Library, supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, conducting a series of bookmaking workshops for the community.

In celebration of the holiday spirit, I taught participants to create the fun and useful “envelope book”, which can indeed be sent through the mail! The envelope book can be used as a book and/or a card, and is an engaging project for the whole family.

The wonderful Children’s librarian Kirsten Xavier laid out cookies, making the whole experience that much sweeter, and adding to the festive atmosphere.


Mother and son work side by side, creating their envelope covers, and adding their folded accordion pages.


Cookies, a butterfly hole puncher and golden swirls, what could be better?! A green marker?!


Families worked together and devoted parents got a chance to create in tandem with their children.

Now that’s the holiday spirit!