This seems very cinematic to me. History started the zooming-in process by losing/destroying portions of this piece over time. The catalogue has continued the process by isolating selected areas and reducing them in size and probably altering color along the way. If we were to see the piece itself, what we would see would reflect the patina of time. It would not have its original colors or textures. Some of the cloth now consists of warp only . . . The catalogue has zoomed in on selected areas.

We can continue the process by focusing in very tight areas and bringing to it our own sensibilities. [It becomes] a sort of moving forward in time, a Reconstruction from its previous Deconstruction. – TT p.15

Linda Rees

Eugene, Oregon

As I stood looking at the [Donna Martin] tapestries . . .I started pondering the consequences of her spontaneous manner of working. . . How did she keep everything integrated? A part of me wanted to dismiss the idea as not for me. However, I kept thinking that there was a relationship between her way of weaving and how her imagery captured her environment, culturally as well as physically – and that enticed me. – TT p.16

below, Donna Martin, Lagoon, 1994.
You can see Donna Martin's piece, New Mexico: The Power of Lightning, in Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot (summer 1998) p.26-27.

In preparation for [our] meeting, I decided to weave a piece that would have some impromptu aspect to it. [...] To my surprise, as the diagonals came together, the color patterns matched as if by design. [...] They intersected logically. I felt as though I had a visual memory of what had preceded what. I am sure the design was aided by the fact that I was working on all the sections across the tapestry at one time. Involved in pattern transition, I could feel the movement of the bands; I saw a vitality and alertness in my weaving. Without experiencing the dynamic effect of Donna Martin's tapestries, I might never have pursued this system. – TT p.16-17

below, Donna Martin, Early in the Morning, 1995.

below, Donna Martin, Journey into Solitude, 1995.

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