Melissa Cody

Note this textile’s bright hues of pink, red, and purple. Like some other contemporary Diné weavers, Melissa Cody works in the Germantown Revival style, which is characterized by vibrant aniline dyes. In the late 1800s, Diné began working with synthetic-dyed yarn made in Germantown, Pennsylvania. When the market soon dismissed the use of bright Germantown yarns, the style went dormant until the 1980s.

While Diné weaving has its roots in apparel, the practice evolved to include fine art hung on walls, as exemplified by this tapestry. Its text refers to Neil Young’s 1970 song of the same title. Materials, references, and colors may change within Diné weaving, but its values remain the same.

Fourth-generation master weaver Melissa Cody was taught by her mother beginning at the age of five. Historically, Diné weavers collected wool from their sheep and dyed it with plants harvested in Dinétah (Navajo homelands). Like some other contemporary Diné weavers, Cody works in the Germantown style, characterized by vibrant aniline dyes. Note how the bright red colors in this piece create mountain designs.

Cody is inspired by many sources, including music. This textile references Neil Young’s 1970 single “Only Love Can Break Your Heart.”

—SB