Expressing herself through the medium of fabric and thread, Paula Kovarik explores what cannot be seen. Her intuitive line work travels the surface of her work as if a meditation has become solid. Inspired by everything from cracks in sidewalks to electronic circuitry and microscopic life she layers meaning and emotion into each piece. The tactile nature of the cloth and thread makes the work approachable and mysterious at the same time. It’s about layered, ripped, cut, and sandwiched together pieces—producing a composition held together by the narrative of the thread. Inward thoughts become outwardly apparent through slow and studied attention to detail.
"My art has an undercurrent of peculiarities and humor. I look for things that are uncanny—those elements in life that don’t quite make sense. Characters and patterns emerge through stitching. Moving from two-dimensional surfaces to three-dimensional forms, I built a herd this year. The members have no heads. They are diverse and a little disturbing. Where are they going? What has the herd heard to draw them here? Let loose upon my studio floor and tables, they wander aimlessly. They could be me and you. They could be them. They stay together, they move as one, letting someone else or something else dictate their actions."
Artist's Lecture: August 31, 2022 at 6pm
Reception: September 1, 2022 from 12 - 1:30pm
Paula Kovarik - Herd Members
The New Gallery at Austin Peay State University
Art + Design Building
730 Joseph St.
Clarksvilee TN 37040
United States
931-221-6519