More than 80 City of Mississauga employees invited Baldwin to capture the quirks of their work space with his camera lens.
The opening reception for his Office Space/Public Space exhibit was held last night.
The show offers a tantalizing glimpse of the inner workings of office workers who occupy spaces within the government buildings. In the spotlight are the various interesting ways they have found to break the monotony of an otherwise sterile space.
The results of Baldwin's work was showcased in a series of long, ceiling-to-floor banners.
From ubiquitous office supplies such as staplers, pens, pins, tissue boxes and plants to more unusual items such as a rolled-up tube of toothpaste, a copy of a plumber's handbook and bottles of analgesics — each photo taken by Baldwin offered clues to the personality of a work cubicle's inhabitant.
“It was a way for us to see how people personalized their space, what tools they use in the office as well as the way in which they make their nine-to-five space little bit like their home,” said Suzanne Carte-Blanchenot, outreach coordinator for the AGM. “And, also, how they're able to deal with people who share the cubicle.”
Carte-Blanchenot said most of the objects photographed belong to workers from City Hall and the Central Library. Each participant was asked to sift through their cubicles and come up with a minimum of 15 items.
An offshoot goal of the exhibit is to let municipal employees know about the AGM.
“They don't know we're here because we're tucked off in the corner,” Carte-Blanchenot said. “We thought by going into their spaces, it will give them an opportunity to come down here.”
Michelle Johnson, who lives near Square One, said she found the show fascinating.
“It is about all the things we don't think about when we are in this business environment,” Johnson said. “And it is interesting how we slowly start bringing in more colourful things to this grey space.”
Office Space/Public Space runs to July 13.
For more information, visit www.artgalleryofmississauga.com.
rpanjwani@mississauga.net
