Tyvek

Regalos Horizontal

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Begun in earnest as part of Sandra’s 2019 solo show at St. Norbert’s College in Wisconsin- Covid, relocation, and expansion into Santa Fe delayed continuation of the Tyvek paintings. A group of new works have been in process for the past year and will debut in June ‘23 on Canyon Road. Tyvek works are mounted onto a cradled panel that is floated in an unglazed hardwood shadowbox frame. This allows the work to be protected while the rich surface texture can be enjoyed without a reflective layer of glazing.

Though a manufactured material, the texture of Tyvek reads as fluid fibers mimicking hand made paper. Archival and extremely durable, the material allows Sandra to work larger and with more abandon. She remains amused by an industrial textile as substrate in light of over 3 decades of collaboration in flatweave tapestry. The handwoven tapestry is actually a rigid structure related to machines in strange contrast to the industrial material Tyvek produced by machines yet reflecting a handmade paper vibe.

Martinez’ materials and substrates are often random gifted materials. All of the books, and even the tyvek, were bestowed. Much of the current colorful pastels and pencils were also bequeathed. Sandra works in a subconscious journaling process that requires feeling free. Expensive materials and elaborate processes seem to hinder her creative flow.

Once she waited 3 years to use some beautiful handmade paper, she lamented —“…it alway feels constricting, like I’m wasting…what if it’s junk…”

“I Need to use simple, plentiful, inexpensive materials to thrive in my practice. Old books, documents, tyvek, acrylic, Sumi ink, dirt, ash, pencils and flotsam and jetsam…just non-precious…”

”It’s Funny to me that the other wing of my work is in hand-spun wool tapestry - on one hand these are completely functional as rugs on the floor—supremely so—wipe your feet on the artwork…”

“On the other hand, so much time, effort and expertise,  so many hands involved in creating each woven peice… Precious, ancient work.”

“Most people hang them on the wall!”