Woman's Work--Collages by Maria Campbell

As a young child, I passively accepted what anyone told me I should be. As an
adult, I have learned to take a more active role in constructing my identity. I learned
to recognize the forces which have influenced me, to ask myself “How will I allow this
to shape me now?” and to grab hold of the values which would enhance my sense of self.
I have begun to accept my inherent strengths and weaknesses and to integrate them
all into a unified and consistent whole. It has become my woman’s work.

The collage process closely mirrors the construction of one’s identity. Each cut or
torn part of the image represents the journey that each individual must take
throughout their lifetime. In different situations and with different people, our
identity will change ever so slightly. Am I Wife? Will I be Friend? Am I
Parent? Student? Lover? Will “I” ever again be lost in the shift from one identity
to the next?

Creating these images has revealed more to me about myself than I ever thought
possible. I invite you to click on the links below and explore the different forces that
have written themselves upon me.