These photographs are the result of four months spent in Paris, France. I asked male strangers of a variety of professions if I could borrow their clothes and their workspace for about an hour.

I found these situations through the yellow pages, by stopping people on the street and by visiting different establishments. I then made appointments to put on their clothes and take a picture of myself in their space. These photographs were an excuse to talk to a lot of different people in hopes of improving my French and working through my fears about personal relations.

The seed of this project lies in my own work experience. I felt an unvoiced pressure to be less emotional and more ambitious. I got it in my head that the expected qualities I lacked were common attributes of the male gender. The statement I formed was “I am capable of learning to do any one of these jobs but not as a man”. The interaction that took place with each person was often made complicated by an unsaid boundary I was choosing to cross. I proposed my project to men and was greeted every time with an uneasy grin. The project became about access, wanting to know about situations I felt blocked from experiencing. The funny thing is I was able to make this project happen because I am a woman, polite, sensitive and pretty. My fears were intensified by my concept of work. I was struck with indecision about what line of work I belong in because I am going to spend most of my waking hours devoted to whatever I choose. I assumed that my choice will determine what my life will be like, who I will know and what I will think. The project is about reconciling my assumptions with a reality outside of myself.

Kim Waldron’s parents, Jim and Ann Waldron, prompted the perspective that is necessary to produce her work. The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design provided the appropriate access to facilities, people and information. Her resulting artwork has been exhibited at the Art Gallery of Windsor, Gallery 44 and the Khyber Centre for the Arts. An exhibition of new photo work is on display at St. Mary’s University Art Gallery until the end of November. Currently she lives in Montreal and thanks to a Canada Council grant she has been working on a new project during which she felt like the luckiest person ever, even while it was hard work.

Kim would like to thank : Olivier Bancaud, M. Bourgoin, Dr. Jean-Pierre Auber, Fabrice Antore, Fabien Basset, Pierre Sachet, Emilio Belmonte, Francois Millot, Daniel Schwobmann, Adrien Deleglise, Antoine-Marie Mariani, Jean-Pierre Lavigne, Frederic Chatelain, Vincent Queret, Niko, Philippe Robinson, Alexandra Spunt, Morgan Lackman, Tim Southwood, Fern Breslaw, Bob Bean, Jim and Ann Waldron.