Martha Donovan Opdahl

I make tufted and stitched constructions with fiber and rubber. I studied in Budd Stalnaker’s woven & constructed textiles program at Indiana University-Bloomington and got an MFA degree (1985). Since then, I have been making large scale, abstract, tufted wall pieces of hand-dyed wool yarn. I began with an electric Rumplestiltskin tool and now use an industrial punch gun powered by an air compressor.

"Koshi Series: Beke," ©1999 Martha Donovan Opdahl, 53" x 80", tufted wool pile, sheared/ cotton backing/ acid dyes

Since 2003, I’ve been working on a smaller scale. I cut, fold,  layer, and piece together cotton organdy shapes and sew them on acrylic (aka plexiglass). I limit my visual vocabulary to geometric shapes, gestural and structural lines, and hue and value contrasts (rather than gradations). The organdy pieces are monochromatic.

"Construction #44," ©2005, Martha Donovan Opdahl, 22" x 23", folded, layered, pieced, machine top-stitched cotton organdy sewn onto acrylic

I am currently (2012) developing a body of work in 3-D using black rubber–a radical departure from 3 decades of 2-D fiber art work. I stitch together my sculptures using a basic textile technique: a hand-sewn straight stitch.

"Black and Blue #3," ©2011 Martha Donovan Opdahl, 24" x 13" x 11", pieced hand-stitched rubber/ waxed linen cord

My approach to making art is intuitive and spontaneous, yet the pieces remain true to the special qualities of the materials. I offer a structure that is formal and spare, stressing strong silhouette, surface, and line.

I am represented by Hodges Taylor Gallery,  Charlotte, NC, and welcome commissions.