Yayoi Kusama
Of Polka Dots and Butterflies: Inspired by Yayoi Kusama
In what I am calling my “Girl Power” after-school artmaking class (“Making Art Inspired By Great Artists!), my group of seven power artmakers are hard at work creating polka-dotted butterfly books inspired by Japanese Artist Yayoi Kusama!
First up was to learn the correct pronouncement of Kusama’s name…not familiar to the girrrls. Next they created accordion-fold book spines, added the front and back covers, and finally, butterfly wings to the center fold of the spine
Then it was off to the races to add colorful polka dots to their books, in honor of Kusama’s interest (obsession with?) circles, polka-dots, and their endlessness and thus the expression of infinity the circular shape affords, at least in Kusama’s book (!)
Adding also flowers, butterflies (stickers), ribbons to honor May Day and even using a butterfly shaped hole puncher, the girrrls wowed with their use of materials, their creativity, and imagination to create unique, whimsical, beautiful and stunningly singular works. Just like Yayoi Kusama does with her materials, creativity and imagination!
What a marvelous group. Brava!
Spines folded, covers and wings attached, let the adornment begin!
Weaving ribbons through the holes.
Can there be any more polka dots?!?
Using the butterfly hole puncher.
Deft use of the polka dot (and other) stickers, which she is adding white texture to (overlaying the original orange color polka dot color on the wings) , which she took out or replaced later, to have just the plain orange polka dots. Just amazing!
“Women Artists Unfolding”: Celebrating Women Artists at the West Valley Regional Branch Library
In honor of Women’s History Month (March) the West Valley Regional Branch Library celebrated women artists with a bookmaking workshop led by artist in residence Debra Disman!
Patrons joined us to create their own handmade books which unfolded to hold informative and inspiring images and information about renowned artists Faith Ringgold, Frida Kahlo and Yayoi Kusama. All materials were provided. The program is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
Yayoi Kusama and her ubiquitous polka dots was a hit!
“Women Artists Unfolding” at the West Valley Regional Library!
In honor of Women’s History Month the West Valley Regional Branch Library celebrates women artists with a bookmaking workshop led by our artist in residence Debra Disman!
Please join us to create your own handmade book, learn about artists Faith Ringgold, Frida Kahlo and Yayoi Kusama and add what you learn about them to your books! All materials will be provided.
This program is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
This event is part of my Artist Residency in Bookmaking, “We Write the Book” at the West Valley Regional Branch Library of the Los Angeles Public Library, supported by the Los Angeles City Department of Cultural Affairs.
The Residency is comprised of a series of bookmaking workshops presented at the Library, planned in close coordination with Library Staff.
Women Artists Unfolding
EventBright
KTLA Community Caendar
Open the Door to Women Artists with the West Valley Regional Branch Library!
CELEBRATE WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH BY LEARNING ABOUT, HONORING AND BEING INSPIRED BY WOMEN ARTISTS!!!
Date(s):
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Time:
4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Category:
Series:
Language:
English
Description:
Celebrate Women’s History Month and the work of Frida Kahlo, Faith Ringgold, and Yayoi Kusama by creating a fantastic handmade book. Exercise your creativity and learn new skills in the process!
This is an online program. Space and supplies are limited to the first 20 patrons who register. There is a limit of 2 supply packs per household.
Registration and supplies will be distributed in order of request.
For ADA accommodations, call (213) 228-7430 at least 72 hours prior to the event.
Para ajustes razonables según la ley de ADA, llama al (213) 228-7430 al menos 72 horas antes del evento.
Felt, Fabric, Feathers, FUN: Celebrating Women Artists at the Will and Ariel Durant Branch Library
I was thrilled to lead an artmaking program at the Will and Ariel Durant Branch Library of the Los Angeles Public Library System to celebrate Women’s History Month, specifically Women Artists!
Inspired by the artist Faith Ringgold’s “Story Quilts”, participants including children, adults and families, used a glorious melange of soft materials (well, there were some buttons…) to create their own textile hangings, tapestries of sorts, learning about five very special women artists in the process.
Faith Ringgold of New York City, Yayoi Kusama of Japan, Liza Lou of Los Angeles, Frida Kahlo of Mexico, and Georgia O’Keeffe of New Mexico were presented and discussed, and participants incorporated images of the artists and their work into their projects. The creative juxtaposition of materials and images was thrilling…and inspiring.
Children’s Librarian Aida got into the act with Georgia O’Keeffe, one of her favorite artists.
Feathers are fun!
This maker ensconced herself at one end of the room and focussed intensively on the materials.
Devotion to detail…
A glorious melange of felt, feathers, canvas and cloth…
Adding buttons.
Laying out the components in an orderly fashion…
Creating borders framing the work.
This Mom brings her two daughters to the program every week and enjoys creating with them. Talented…
She created a butterfly!
He created the five elements!
Serious little makers having fun. Did this little princess create her castle in her piece?
Wearable art!
Joy.