Debra Disman

Artist

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Textile Arts LA

EXHIBITIONISTA: Handwork, The Material Intelligence of Touch

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As part of handwork 2026 logopresented by Craft in America,

Textile Arts LA presents:
Handwork, The Material Intelligence of Touch!

At the Marks Center, College of the Desert.

The exhibit brings together artists from Textile Arts LA whose work centers the hand as both method and metaphor. Inspired by artist Ann Hamilton’s concept of the “sewing hand”—the idea that making by hand is a way of knowing—we explore how tactile engagement with material connects body to mind, individual to community, and past to present.

Please VIEW THE SHOW HERE

I am delighted to participate with two works included:

“Communion“, 2025, 10.5 x 21.5 x 8.5” (dimensions variable), wood, hemp/assorted cord, acrylic paint


“La Forêt I“, 2024, 62 x 17 x 1”, canvas, acrylic paint, hemp/jute/cotton cord

EXHIBITIONISTA: TRYST Art Fair

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An Independent, non-commercial, Art Fair for Artist-Run-Spaces and Collectives (Definition of tryst: a rendezvous by lovers at a given time or place, often in secret)
I am participating with Textile Arts LA!

“Profusion”
artists book, mixed fiber media
July 11th to 13th, 2025

Del Amo Crossing
21535 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90503Friday, July 11: VIP Opening – 4-6pm
Networking for participating artists 12:00-4:00pm
Saturday, July 12: Open 12-6pm
Sunday, July 13: Open 12-6pm
ADMISSION is FREE!!!

What is TRYST?

TRYST is an international art fair for artist-run-spaces and collectives as well as an international gathering to address the needs and future of global exchange for artist-run spaces, collectives and organizations, run through the Torrance Art Museum (TAM) and the City of Torrance. This will be the third edition of TRYST.

With the need for opportunities and artistic exchange worldwide between grass-roots artist organizations, this fair aims to facilitate the exposure of international artists to new Los Angeles audiences, and to network with each other, to engage and to provoke further international exchanges and interaction between participants. Talks and performances will included in the program, as well as social events for participants.

2025 PARTICIPATING SPACES: 

INTERNATIONAL: Alpha Contemporary (Tokyo), Artspace Mexico (CDMX); AYN Gallery (Paris), The Black Piglet (CDMX), BLECH (Germany), The Bureau of Queer Art (Mexico/USA), Changeable Beasts (London), Estudio Marte (CDMX), The Farm & Distillery (Berlin), FokiaNou Art Space (Athens), MinEastry of Postcollapse Art and Culture (Switzerland), Open O’pen$ (Ukraine), PASAJ (Istanbul), Plomo (CDMX), Shelter Artists Run Space (Portugal/Turkey)

NATIONAL: 601 Artspace (NYC), After / time (Portland), Dark Time Poetics (Chickamauga, GA), FSN Contemporary (NYC), Mercury20 (Oakland, CA), Hyperlink (Denver, CO), ICOSA Collective (Austin, TX), Millie Benson Projects (NYC), Proyectos Raul Zamudio (NYC) ,PRP (Dallas, TX), SFAA (Chicago/ San Francisco), Scrambled Eggs (Las Vegas), South Square Studios (Las Vegas), TAD Projects (Denver, CO), Taos Abstract Artist Collective (TAAC) (Taos, NM), Teleportal (NYC), Woman Made Gallery (Chicago, IL)

SO-CAL: 515, 3C Gallery, Ace Tiger Gallery,  Allied Special Projects, Alt projects, Art Hive Collective, Artemia (Solas Art Center), AWOL, bed crumb show, Dorado 806, Durden and Ray, Erect walls, Flux Art Space, Idolwild, Inglewood Open Studios (IOS), JAUS, Kipaipai, Korean American Artist Collective (KAAC), Landmarks of Art (LoA),Monte Vista Projects, Nous-Ance, OFFUS, Open Gallery, Open Mind Art Space, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (OCCCA), Proxy Gallery, Quiet Please, Range Projects Gallery, The Revolution School, Ruth Gallery, S-Gallery, South Bay Artist’s Collective (SBAC), Textile Arts LA, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Toy Bin Art, UOOORS, Venice Institute of Contemporary Art (ViCA), Women Painters West (WPW)

Flag Book and Variations: Book Structures Workshop with artist Debra Disman

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I am thrilled to partner with Textile Arts LA and the Patricia Sweetow Gallery to teach “Flag Book and Variations: Book Structures Workshop”
on 

September 29 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

ENJOY BOOKMAKING IN COMMUNITY IN A GALLERY SETTING!

Presented by Textile Arts LA!

In Conjunction with Patricia Sweetow Gallery

In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to create the kinetic and versatile “Flag Book” structure, as well as a full-page variant, termed the “Folded Fan”. You’ll learn how to make folded page variations, and how to create one and two-cut apertures and pop-ups. With a focus on textiles and fiber, participants will explore ways to develop, embellish, and adorn their books with texture, color, pattern, and image, as well as how to employ “found writing” to add text.

I will guide you in the methods and extensive applications of the accordion fold in bookmaking, gluing, and collage techniques, ways of adding stitching/sewing, and how to create poetic text effortlessly will also be covered. The last hour of the workshop will be devoted to bringing projects to completion as time permits, how to add techniques from the participants’ chosen art forms and expertise to their books, and sharing completed or in-process books as desired.

Materials Included:

Book board prepared for book covers
Acid-free paper prepared for book spines
Acid free- glue sticks
Neutral pH Adhesive/brushes
Scissors
Folding tools
Awls/punching tools
Hemp and other cord and thread
Drawing and Writing Materials
Print Media (repurposed)
Fabric and paper scrap and samples (repurposed)
Designer wallpaper and textile samples

Materials/Tools to Bring if Desired:

Favorite scissors for cutting paper and fabric
Awl or other “punching” tool
Collage materials (that can be glued with a glue stick or fluid adhesive)
Print Media to cut up and repurpose (magazines/books/brochures/postcards

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2024. 12:00 – 4:00 PM at Patricia Sweetow Gallery 1700 So. Santa Fe Ave. Suite 351, Los Angeles, CA 90021.
parking available

SIGN UP HERE!

Flag Book and Variations: Book Structures Workshop with artist Debra Disman

By

ENJOY BOOKMAKING IN COMMUNITY IN A GALLERY SETTING!

Presented by Textile Arts LA!

In Conjunction with Patricia Sweetow Gallery

In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to create the kinetic and versatile “Flag Book” structure, as well as a full-page variant, termed the “Folded Fan”. You’ll learn how to make folded page variations, and how to create one and two-cut apertures and pop-ups. With a focus on textiles and fiber, participants will explore ways to develop, embellish, and adorn their books with texture, color, pattern, and image, as well as how to employ “found writing” to add text.

Debra will guide you in the methods and extensive applications of the accordion fold in bookmaking, gluing, and collage techniques, ways of adding stitching/sewing, and how to create poetic text effortlessly will also be covered. The last hour of the workshop will be devoted to bringing projects to completion as time permits, how to add techniques from the participants’ chosen art forms and expertise to their books, and sharing completed or in-process books as desired.

Materials Included:

Book board prepared for book covers
Acid-free paper prepared for book spines
Acid free- glue sticks
Neutral pH Adhesive/brushes
Scissors
Folding tools
Awls/punching tools
Hemp and other cord and thread
Drawing and Writing Materials
Print Media (repurposed)
Fabric and paper scrap and samples (repurposed)
Designer wallpaper and textile samples

Materials/Tools to Bring if Desired:

Favorite scissors for cutting paper and fabric
Awl or other “punching” tool
Collage materials (that can be glued with a glue stick or fluid adhesive)
Print Media to cut up and repurpose (magazines/books/brochures/postcards)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2024. 12:00 – 4:00 PM at Patricia Sweetow Gallery 1700 So. Santa Fe Ave. Suite 351, Los Angeles, CA 90021.
parking available

SIGN UP HERE!

 

EXHIBITIONISTA: “INTERNATIONAL FIBER ARTS XI” at Sebastopol Center for the Arts

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I am thrilled to be a part of International Fiber Arts XI!

The 11th Biennial Fiber Art juried exhibition is held every two years at Sebastopol Center for the Arts. This outstanding celebration of fiber arts presents the work of artists from all over the world. Over 3,000 attend this well publicized and reviewed exhibit. This show is held in the SCA gallery and available virtually online on the SCA website. The exhibition is co-sponsored by Sebastopol Center for the Arts and Surface Design Association.

International Fiber Arts XI is a juried exhibition presenting a distinct approach to innovative and traditional fiber techniques, and contemporary concepts for the
use of traditional and unusual materials. The selected two and three-dimensional works invite the viewer to experience the many facets of fiber art.

Jurors are distinguished fiber artists Judith Content and Ann Johnston.

 

 

TEXTILE ARTS LA SLAM!

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The last Textile Slam! of 2020 was  Tuesday evening October 27, 2020

Textile Slam! is an opportunity for friendly conversation and networking, featuring a rotating slate of presenters, each of whom  deliver an informal six-minute (or less!) slide show / improv / show-and-tell presentation. I was honored to present at this Slam!

Members, artists, designers, architects, educators, and all-around neat thinkers are invited to talk about their work, ideas that interest them, or projects they are exploring or have completed or would like help with.

The Slam! as a casual, community, conversation-oriented event.

This Slam! featured Lea Feinstein, Kathy Nida, and Debra Disman talking about current work, creating in a pandemic, thriving.

See the SLAM! and ENJOY!