Silent Echoes is a series of photographs and photo collages on the theme of women's lives. When I was small, I thought women could do anything, and I still do. But they are responsible for so many things, great and small, that affect their lives in many ways they can't control. Sometimes, looking back, they see other paths they might have taken had circumstances been different. Sometimes they are haunted by these thoughts and questions.

Throughout most of history, the struggles of women have gone unnoted, yet these struggles have required so much courage and effort, so much sacrifice, much of it silent. I think about this a lot. I thought about it as I cared for my elderly father who lived to 93 with a lot of help. I think about it as I remember my grandmother, a farm girl from rural Arkansas (born in 1882 "near Turner's Post Office"), who married young and lost her husband at age 36. She bore 6 children, 4 of whom made it to adulthood and old age. There were things that were not spoken of, yet remained. In creating these images, my immediate family and ancestors come into my mind, (their births, the journeys of their lives that led to me being born in New York City and reflecting back on them). I see their triumphs and struggles, and in my work I honor them.

I am honored to have this project featured on the Personal Histories Artist Book exhibition blog. The show will take place from October 12 – November 30th, 2014 at the Redland Museum in Queensland, Australia.

The project also got a lovely little writeup by PDN (Photo District News)! Check it out at http://www.pdnonline.com/photoserve/Catherine-Kirkpatric-9706.shtml

To see more of these images, please click on "Portfolio/Images" then on "Silent Echoes."