Black-and-white photograph of Huichol artist Emeteria Ríos Martínez (- 1994) with a yarn painting and supplies. In June 1985, Martinez participated in "Art Day" at the Institute for Scientific Information, where she demonstrated how to create Huichol yarn paintings. Yarn painting involves pressing yarn into a board coated with wax or resin and usually depicts Huichol culture, mythology, and shamanistic traditions.

In 1979, Eugene Garfield commissioned a mural for the opening of the ISI building. He later learned that the artist, Martinez, had received only 5% of the fee paid for the work. In response, Garfield arranged for her to work directly with the institute and provided a monthly stipend so she could create freely. She was also commissioned to produce smaller yarn paintings, which were gifted to ISI clients and visitors.