home view gallery what's new about marie links & credits contact us

Women Carrying Water

"Women Carrying Water" is a series of paintings created by Marie to draw attention to women everywhere who must walk daily for many miles and hours to collect small amounts of water for their families' basic needs.

While walking for and carrying water, these women are at great personal risk. They are victims of murder and rape, and even find themselves being hunted by wildlife. In an attempt to avoid danger, they often walk for water in the middle of the night. Yet they must also function during the day to continue with the remainder of their many chores, regardless of illness, broken bones or sprains, or injured backs and necks caused by the strain of carrying heavy vessels on their heads. They must walk on regardless of pregnancy, childbirth, or any other difficulties or ailments.

This is an intolerable situation. Water poverty, with its attendant challenges, should be considered an unacceptable situation by all of the world's citizens. That people anywhere on Earth, in this day and age, under any circumstances, should not be able to get basic water needs met is a stain on the collective consciousness of all people everywhere.

A portion of proceeds from the sales of "Women Carrying Water" images will be donated to either Women for Women International, which devotes its energies to improving the lives of challenged women in third world countries, or to WaterAid, an international organization which works to establish water and sanitation facililties to those in need in all countries.

If you would like to know more, please visit the following links:

• The Water For Women Organization
• WaterAid- Water and Sanitation for All
• The CLP- A Treacherous Trek to the Crater's Edge


Back to Water Carrier Collection