Talking art with Patricia Campbell
Artist uses creativity in her works.
Art represents something unique to each of us. For everyone who has their life touched by art's vast canvas of colour and mediums, there are as many definitions of its purpose and meaning. For New Brunswick artist Patricia Campbell, art is a means of self-exploration, creativity, and a way of understanding the world that exists around us.
Through life, she chooses to let art act as her guide as she follows one of many possible creative paths.
"It's a mixed bag for me because I really didn't intend to do this," she says speaking about how art entered her life. "It's not my work in the sense that it's my calling or anything. I don't see it like that. I just found I really focused, I found I was able to lose myself in what I was doing." Campbell started off working in photography, but expanded what she does into a much larger concept.
"I started out doing photography on my own," she says, "and decided I needed to add to it. I eventually began doing pieces of work that were more involved and rather introverted like having to do with the subject of women choosing to have children or to not. I started creating installation pieces using wax, paper, wood, and text instead of just a photo collection to express my ideas. Now I'm learning to use fabric and put images on fabric. That's one of my interests and I want to see where that takes me." A retired nurse who has been creating artistic works for nearly 15 years, Campbell finds a special comfort in the simple creative choices art allows her to make in her everyday life.
"I think my strong interest in art came from it simply being my choice," she explains. "It's all my decision in terms of what I'm going to do, how I'm going to do it and when I'm going to do it. I have no deadline or real commitment to anything except what I am doing," she adds.
Often intertwining thought provoking text into her work, some of Campbell's work reads like pages from a diary. One of her recent works is titled Nullipara, a Latin word for empty, and deals with her own decision to not bare children.
"My work suggests what I believe to be a more authentic reality," she says in a regard to this particular piece.
"Nulliparas make a choice to remain childless for a myriad of reasons." Art is often seen as an escape from the pressures of daily life. Campbell is quick to agree with this point for it's art and its pursuits that grant her a freedom like nothing else she's found.
"I find creating to be a really nice emotional and physical space to be in. I think all artists relate to that in different ways. We live in a world where everything is supposed to be moving in one direction and I think that for me, I learned that's not true. To not feel that way isn't actually a negative thing. That was a real good understanding to reach."
Campbell is currently exploring new creative possibilities in her ever changing and evolving artistic pursuit.
Talking art is a column that will feature artists from around the province discussing their interests, motivations, and what art means to them. New Brunswick is full of talented artists creating in countless mediums. I hope Talking Art will expose you to the many talented artists around the province. If you would like to suggest an artist to feature, please e-mail gzjzt@stu.ca
More Reviews
Search Articles
More CE Network Sites & Partners:
