Debra Disman

Artist

  •

The Los Angeles Public Library

Friday Bookmakers Inspiration! We Stand (Sit?!) Together, Making Books! (7)

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I have been honored to work with a wonderful group of “older adults” at the Craft Contemporary Museum in Los Angeles, offering a series of workshops teaching bookmaking techniques, and providing a forum for creativity, imagination, sharing and story.

The remainder of our series, “Crafting Our Stories By Hand” has had to be postponed due covid19.

Therefore, I have started an email newsletter to keep our community going, offering tips, images and sharing the work these makers are doing at home while “sheltering in place”.

Sharing these newsletters as a blog post makes their contents available for any and all. It inspiring to see what these makers have done and are doing during these crazy times.

Dear Readers, Bookmakers, All,

I am happy to bring you images, tips, inspiration and learning for your bookmaking journey.

I hope you are all well, staying safe, and creating!
You might want to check out the “Crafting Our Stories By Hand” blog post below…it holds wonderful photos of you all taken during our workshops at the Museum. So photogenic you all are (as Yoda would say!)
 
Also, you can check out all of our weekly newsletters in blog version here:

https://debradisman.com/blog/

This week, we have Vicki sharing a circle book! Fun, whimsical, and what a great challenge to put to oneself!
She says, 

“Took a on-line class from book maker Kit Davey.  This circle book was made with double sided paper.  If you enjoy origami I think you would enjoy making this book.” (I added in the link if anyone wants to further explore artist Kit Davey.)

WOW!
 
Sandra created two glorious books, and she says,

“The first book is a simple blank book on cardboard. I watched an online tutorial from The Broad aimed at children — to create their own artwork in the manner of Mark Bradford. So that’s what I did for the covers. Just layered paper scraps, sanded them, then layered some more, and repeat. Just joined pages with copper wire rings.”(I added in the link if anyone wants to further explore artist Mark Bradford.)

My second book was supposed to be based on a winged book from the Alisa Golden book. I deconstructed an Ed Kienholz catalog and reconstructed it. The only difference between mine and the winged book is that I didn’t glue the connecting pages together — because I liked the triangular aspect. I made a little belly band out of an interior translucent page.(I added in the links if anyone wants to further explore artists Alisa Golden and  Ed Kienholz.)

Well that is it for this week dear Readers, Bookmakers, All,
If you are able, and so inclined, email us back to share something book-related, or anything of interest you wish.

Stay Safe, Stay Strong, Stay Well, Stay Sane
STAY CREATIVE!
And as Sandra says,
“Craft on!

Friday Bookmakers Inspiration! We Stand (Sit?!) Together, Making Books! (6)

By

I have been honored to work with a wonderful group of “older adults” at the Craft Contemporary Museum in Los Angeles, offering a series of workshops teaching bookmaking techniques, and providing a forum for creativity, imagination, sharing and story.

The remainder of our series, “Crafting Our Stories By Hand” has had to be postponed due covid19.

Therefore, I have started an email newsletter to keep our community going, offering tips, images and sharing the work these makers are doing at home while “sheltering in place”.

Sharing these newsletters as a blog post makes their contents available for any and all. It inspiring to see what these makers have done and are doing during these crazy times.

Dear Bookmakers,

I am happy to bring you images, tips, inspiration and learning for your bookmaking journey.

I hope you are all well, staying safe, and creating!
You might want to check out the “Crafting Our Stories By Hand” blog post below…it holds wonderful photos of you all taken during our workshops at the Museum. So photogenic you all are (as Yoda would say!)
Also, you can check out all of our weekly newsletters in blog version right here.
This week Vicki completed an elaborate Tunnel Book, so in addition to sharing it here, I am including images that show a step-by-step process of making a simple version of a Tunnel Book, as well as some samples from a workshop I attended a few years ago at the Hammer Museum, where I learned how-to!
Vicki’s Tunnel Book, in her own words,
“This is about the sixth try.  I tried it wrong in every way possible, wrong size, wrong paper, wrong idea etc. etc.  Given that, I am happy with this effort.
I have been spending the remainder of my time collaging, altering paper and marbling.  By the way, it is World Collage Day on May 9th!” (I added that link!)
WOW! gorgeous piece! A real monkey habitat!
In pictures, here is a “how-to” to create a simple Tunnel Book:
 
And some very fanciful examples of tunnel book, from a class where I learned to make them:
An here are two magnificent book projects completed by Sandra…terrific photography also. Sandra says, 
“I made my first book from my stash of vintage prints of women’s fashions — I think 1940s?  Backgrounds are printed patterns found online. Used an old cardboard box as the base. And an entire stick of glue!”
Wow. This is like a tableaux or theater…interesting that both Vicki and Sandra did books that created visual scenes BRAVO!
More from Sandra:
“My second book is a fan book. I started with a Langston Hughes poem ‘Harlem Night Song’ — and then created my version of Harlem at night with song.” You certainly did, Sandra. Wow. I am blown away….
Also, if you can, please join us by ZOOM next Thursday April 30th at 5pm…see details right below.
BYOC (Bring-Your-Own-Craft)
Thursdays | 5 PM
Being cooped up doesn’t mean that creativity has to be confined, too. We want to see the projects you’ve been making—whether it’s a zine, a sweater, or a mask—and craft in (virtual) community rather than from a social distance. Join us for a BYOC (Bring-Your-Own-Craft) Zoom, every Thursday at 5 PM, hosted by a Craft Contemporary staff member. Show us what you’re making and we all craft side-by-side!
BYOC with Holly Jerger – April 30
BYOC with Marisela Norte – May 7
BYOC with Suzanne Isken – May 14
BYOC with Eunice Lee – May 21
Zoom

Well that is it for this week dear Readers and Bookmakers and Both!
If you are able, and so inclined, email us back to share something book-related, or anything of interest you wish.

Stay Safe, Stay Strong, Stay Well, Stay Sane
STAY CREATIVE!
And as Sandra says, “Craft on!

Until next time…

Friday Bookmakers Inspiration! We Stand (Sit?!) Together, Making Books! (5)

By


Collie working in his “studio” at Craft Contemporary in March, 2020

I have been honored to work with a wonderful group of “older adults” at the Craft Contemporary Museum in Los Angeles, offering a series of workshops teaching bookmaking techniques, and providing a forum for creativity, imagination, sharing and story.

The remainder of our series, “Crafting Our Stories By Hand” has had to be postponed due covid19.

Therefore, I have started an email newsletter to keep our community going, offering tips, images and sharing the work these makers are doing at home while “sheltering in place”.

Sharing these newsletters as a blog post makes their contents available for any and all. It inspiring to see what these makers have done and are doing during these crazy times.

Dear Bookmakers,

I am happy to bring you images, tips, inspiration and learning for your bookmaking journey.

I hope you are all well, staying safe, and creating!
We have some wonderful new works for you to enjoy, and ponder.
I already posted the first two pages of Vicki’s Coronavirus HAIKU book, but she sent some more Haiku poems, and I wanted to share them with you. 
These works may be expressing what many are feeling now, and what a wonderful way to cope with these feelings…making them into poetry, and putting them into your own book creation. 
Vicki’s Coronavirus HAIKU book


Notice the use of color and materials in this piece, somber colors, plain black ink, graph paper. Gets across the serious feeling and intent. Anxiety, questioning, concerns. Very moving, Vicki. Glad your husband is fine, as I understand it.

Here are Sandra’s gorgeous contributions this week. Sandra also participated in the Craft Contemporary’s Zoom Craft-In gathering yesterday, and shared these works, to many oohs and ahhhs…
Sandra says, “First book is another catalogue taken apart and reconfigured using the exposed spine construction. A few pages…..”


Beautiful use of stitching in this piece….bravo! Fun, whimsical, adds an extra dimension, makes the viewer stop a moment.

“Second book was made of paint chip scraps with a stick (brush) binding. I had listened to Jerry Saltz’s new book “How to be an Artist”. Some of his ‘rules’ inspired me to create a book around them. He’s the New York magazine art critic. I love him! A few pages……”


Sandra has an incredible facility with shapes and colors, graphics and design. Notice how the black and white text stands out against the colorful shapes. Very imaginative use of paint chips too! We can all use what we find around us to create books!

Well that is it for this week dear Readers!

If you are able, and so inclined, use the comments section to share something book-related, or anything of interest you wish.

Stay safe, stay strong, stay well

STAY CREATIVE!
In peace and hope and truth and beauty,

And as Sandra says, 

“Craft on!

Friday Bookmakers Inspiration! We Stand (Sit?!) Together, Making Books! (3)

By

I have been honored to work with a wonderful group of “older adults” at the Craft Contemporary Museum in Los Angeles, offering a series of workshops teaching bookmaking techniques, and providing a forum for creativity, imagination, sharing and story.

The series, “Crafting Our Stories By Hand” has had to be postponed due covid19.

Therefore, I have started an email newsletter to keep our community going, offering tips, images and sharing the work these makers are doing at home while “sheltering in place”.

Sharing these newsletters as a blog post makes their contents available for any and all. It inspiring to see what these makers have done and are doing during these crazy times.

Dear Bookmakers,

I am happy to bring you images, tips, inspiration and learning for your bookmaking journey.

I hope you are all well, staying safe, and creating!

Today I will share with you:
  • More wondrous works by Sandra and Vicki
  • Samples of a “Poetry Flag Book” project in honor of April, National Poetry Month
  • A link to a  special book  “Books and Their Artists”, on sale right now through the Getty shared by CORNELIA…thank you Cornelia! I actually own this book and it  is amazing, detailed, informative and informational. See right below!
“Book in a Box” created by Vicki for her Granddaughter

Vicki says about the vertical accordion book below:
 “My dearest friend was moved deeply by this W.H. Auden poem after the death of her husband.”

Vicki says, “Hope everyone is having as much fun as I am!”

Sandra says of the next two amazing books she made:
“I am now mining materials around the house for my book making.  
So inspired by Jeannine’s (Jeannine Stein…whose books I shared in last week’s newsletter) entry using a game board, I made my first book – an acknowledgment to our collective situation.”
“For the second book I (Sandra) dismantled a photography exhibition catalog and using the packing tape transfer technique Marsha taught us in class and a little collage work, I reassembled my version of the catalog.” (Brilliant!)
Please see below some images of a “Poetry Flag Book” that a student of mine from 2012 made after our workshop at the West Hollywood Library, and gifted me with! It contains another W.H. Auden poem! which the maker used both in full, and also cut up and rearranged on the Flag pages!

Something you can try at home, to celebrate April, National Poetry Month.

Remember, you can use the online resources of the Los Angeles Public Library any time during this time.

The Public Library is THERE FOR US ALL!

Check out their LIBRARY AT HOME resources.

Well that is it for this week dear Craft Contemporary Bookmakers!

If you are able, and so inclined, email us all back and share something book-related, or plaything you wish, of interest,

Stay safe, stay strong, stay well

STAY CREATIVE!

In peace and hope and truth and beauty,
debra