Kim Kapalka
Artist Statement
The inspirations for the vessels I create often come from my trips into the woods. The trees, flowers, and grasses awaken my senses as I watch them sway in the wind. I enjoy watching the forest wake up in the morning. Each creature has a time when they rise and begin wandering cautiously across the landscape. First light is when the birds start to chirp. The second round of activity witnessed is by the mice, voles, and other small critters that move through the grass. As the sun climbs higher in the sky, the deer begin to appear. It is these layers of activity that form the vision for much of my artwork.
I like to layer fabric and imagery to transform a two-dimensional work into a three-dimensional piece. To begin, a hand-painted piece of fabric is spontaneously created based on the sound, smell, or visual stimulation surrounding me at the moment. Then, I layer and sew additional fabric together before using collage, paint, and printmaking processes to design a surface of visually pleasing color, shape, and pattern.
The large piece of fabric is cut into six or seven smaller pieces. Each shape is sewn back together to form one large new shape of fabric. The reassembled piece is embellished with embroidery, beads, or buttons. The fabric is then manipulated and sewn into a vessel. I enjoy this process because it is free and flowing, not detailed or exact, which tosses a bit of chaos in my often organized routine.