A Reclaimed Soul

Susan Sveda-Pachaud

Found objects, fabric, sculpture wire, assorted thread

“I am telling love stories, through my art. My love stories are fragile, as often as they are brutal. My love stories are filled with tenderness, sadness, desire, and regret. Amidst an endless cycle of going to work, coming home, domestic tasks, personal interactions, and caretaking responsibilities, I find tiny and fleeting clues about the nature of love all around me. I feel that life and love are both profoundly touching and horribly cruel. My stories build from lived, observed or vicariously experienced exchanges and encounters. Occasionally, a piece of literature or music will resonate strongly within me and will be used as impetus for art also. Building a love story through art creates a bridge toward understanding the ways in which people interact and form, build or break relationships. These interactions are beautiful, mysterious, and heartbreaking and are reflected through my art. The manner of creation and materials that I use to tell my love stories are of the same varied nature as how or where I get my ideas. I work in 2D and 3D mixed media, depending upon what my idea needs to visually tell its story. The art will sometimes expand into installation as well. Lately, I work in thematic collections, creating entire bodies of new work for each story I wish to tell. I select a different scale, technique, and material for each work. I use these tools to help steer the emotional content of a piece. My favorite materials are those that carry a pre-existing weight of content…found objects, domestic or household materials and debris, and items found in thrift stores. Aside from those favorites, I will employ anything I need to, to tell a strong visual story. I often use stereotypical women’s work or craft techniques to situate my story in the female point of view, or at least in traditional notions of the feminine experience. Repetition, as expressed in multiples, or in very labor-intensive processes factor in, from the technique side, to speak to everyday life. I use this wide variety of materials and techniques to help create richer undercurrents of meaning in my love stories. As in love and as in my art, anything goes.”

Size: 37″ x 6″ x 8″
Price: $2000

Contact melanyb@eauclaire.lib.wi.us for details.