Debra Disman

Artist

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Travel Journal

“We Write The Book” CULMINATION EVENT at the Northridge Library!

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 It was both moving and thrilling to complete my 2024-25 Artist Residency at the beautiful Northridge Branch Library .

This Neighborhood Engagment Artist Residency has been supported by the wonderful City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

I have been honored to serve as  artist-in-residence at the Northridge Branch Library, conducting bookmaking workshops and events for the local community and library patronage from February through May 31, 2025, on selected Wednesday afternoons, 3:30-5:00PM, and Saturdays 11:00am – 12:30PM

Our workshops have been completely free to community with  all materials and refreshments included, supported by the  City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Attended by participants of all ages including families, I was thrilled to see the explosively colorful and exciting projects our participants created, and their joy in working in community. many of our participants have attended multiple workshops, and some of them have attended all of the bookmaking programs!

During our CULMINATION, participants shared and read from their handmade books, enjoyed refreshments, created a mini-travel journal and learned how do the “Turkish Map Fold” which they could then add to their books!
Turkish Map Fold incorporated into mini-travel journal!


Families enjoy bookmaking together, a blend of generations!


Participants help other participants.


Renata shares one of her amazing books!


A young boy’s dream, and I think we can see what it is!


Such a pleasure to see Ardem Tajerian again, with who I worked on my first Neighborhood Engagment Artist Residency supported by the  City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs back in 2017!


A table of committed bookmakers!


The work and the results.


Maps to add to the travel journal, ready for summer adventures!


It is never too  young to start bookmaking!


A first-time participant who joined our CULMINATION!


Creatively working hands create books.


Library staff get into the creative act.


Extraordinary book works created and shown…shared with the attending community by the participating artists who made them.


Materials galore!


Process yields results.

 
Outside

Inside


Tunnel Bookmaking taken to the max!


Words not to be forgotten…


Honoring women artists in celebration of International Women’s Day and Womens History Month, March 2025

  


An incredible expression of love and committment expressed through bookmaking for a ten-year anniversary, and shared during our “We Write the Book” CULMINATION event!

It was hard to say goodbye. We hope to see everyone in the FALL!

Thank you to  the incredible City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the  fantastic Northridge Branch Library for this amazing and deeply fulfilling experience.  Thank you for allowing me to teach, share my knowledge and love of the community and books, and work together to bring together so  many beautiful souls.

Until the next!!!

CULMINATING our Journey at the Canoga Park Branch Library

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We culminated my yearlong Artist Residency at the Canoga Park Branch Library, “We Write The Book!“, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, with a celebration for the whole community! Attendees created their own travel journals, enjoyed refreshments and a slide show of the year’s bookmaking projects, and “take and make” bookmaking packets (complete with materials and instructions)  were available for the taking.

Library staff, the security guard, families, seniors and a group of very special adults all got into the act!
A lovely group of teens helped set-up for the event, then participated by making their own travel journals. They share their thoughts about the event HERE.


Adult and teen librarians Patty and Marcia have a moment to play with materials and be creative!


Branch security guard made a travel journal!


Auntie and niece have a making experience together.


This young makers loves  the color GREEN!


Assorted materials were available, to offer something to everyone.


Participants had the opportunity to socialize while creating, another human need that sometimes gets put on hold in busy lives.


Happy maker Dawn loves to create books and made a beauty with doors that opened!.


Morning making experience together for mother and daughter.


Making creative re-use of available maps and atlas pages!

 
Making beautiful use of materials, Patty is ready to document her travels!


Enjoying the process.


And the pink book develops, with maps!


TEEN POWER!
Creativity knows no bounds…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Culminating our “We Write The Book” Artist Residency at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

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Please join us at 11AM on Wednesday June 12, 2024 to  celebrate the culmination of the Canoga Park Branch Library’s year long Artist Residency with Debra Disman, “We Write The Book”, supported by our beloved and supportive Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs!

11AM June 12th at the Canoga Park Branch Library!

Come and make your own travel journal, enjoy refreshments and see a slide show of our exciting year of  bookmaking projects. “Take and Make” bookmaking packets will be available while supplies last so you can keep the bookmaking magic going after the event!

We hope to see you there!

“We Write The Book” Artist Residency CULMINATION!

By


Please join us to  celebrate the culmination of the Canoga Park Branch Library’s year long Artist Residency with Debra Disman, “We Write The Book”, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs!

Come and make your own travel journal, enjoy refreshments and see a slide show of our exciting year of  bookmaking projects. “Take and Make” bookmaking packets will be available while supplies last so you can keep the bookmaking magic going after the event!

We hope to see you there!

“We Write the Book” Artist Residency: Goodbye and Hello

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It is bittersweet to complete my third year as Artist-in-Residence for the West Valley Regional Branch Library supported by the wonderful Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs!
Our “We Write the Book” series offered hands-on bookmaking workshops and culmination event for over 171 intergenerational  participants from a variety of backgrounds from July of 2022 through June of 2023.

View a slideshow video of our projects here!

See what participants have to say here!

I am thrilled to begin a new year-long residency at the Canoga Park Branch Library July 18th, 2023!  Our new “We Write the Book” program will run through June 2023, and offer hands-on bookmaking workshops on a monthly basis to the public.

Our next workshop will be August 19th at noon.

So, goodbye to West Valley, and hello to Canoga Park. We invite You to Join us for fun, learning, community, creativity and self-expression!

 

Artist Residency Culminating Event at the West Valley Regional Branch Library!

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Celebrating our year long  “We Write the Book” artist residency at the West Valley Regional Branch Library, supported by The Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs!

Enjoy the ride. We did!