Melissa Cody
What drew you to the medium you work in?
I grew up weaving, starting when I was 5 years old. I learned the basics of the history of weaving, but I also wanted to push myself and create work that made people think. I didn't want it to be designs that were always associated with traditional Navajo textiles.
My work explores not only aesthetic qualities or color theory or motifs, but also where I'm at as an individual, as a woman, as a mother, as a contemporary Indigenous person living in an urban setting.
I grew up on the Navajo reservation, without running water or electricity, and I went to boarding school. Now I live in Los Angeles, in the Long Beach area, and I'm fortunate to be able to run my own studio. There's a long timeline of different things that had to fall into place for me to be where I'm at right now. I definitely want the work to be reflective of all those experiences along the way.
Tell us about your working style, ideal studio environment, or any routines you have.
I usually have multiple pieces going at once. I often have music or movies playing in my studio, because I like to take a breather and look away from my loom sometimes. I sit on the floor to weave. If I’m working on a larger piece, I have platforms built to replicate sitting on the floor.
What does craft mean to you?
Craft is the continuation of tradition. It's the continuation of artistic knowledge in its rawest form.
