I have worked

The minimalist American painter, Agnes Martin (1912-2004), sent this list of places she worked at to Arnold (Arne Glimche), an American art dealer, as part of her biography.¹ The range of her work experience, and her mobility within the work field, is impressive. I wondered how I would stack next to her. Naturally, I am not done. I am sure I will catch up to her.

Agnes Martin

as a play ground director
as a tennis coach
started two successful businesses
on a farm—milking
three times at the wheat harvest
managed cherry pickers
for a mining company. managed Indians horse packing supplies
taught three years in country schools
as a cashier
in a factory
in a hamburger stand
as a receptionist
in a butcher shop
in a nursery
in a cafeteria
as a baker’s helper
as a waitress many times
as a dishwasher three times
as a janitor once
as a cook once
During the War
helping Spanish and Indian get in touch with relatives in the army (Red Cross)
visited Spruce logging operation for the government
at Swan Island (Liberty Ships) child care center
running an elevator
in a parking garage
packing ice cream
managed five Hindus, bailing straw
As a disciplinarian
worked with deprived boys
on school buses
with 60 boy waiters
house mother on campus
chaperone travelling university students
with criminal boys
individual child care, 2 girls and one boy age 4-5-6
also raised rabbits and ducks

Laura Bucci

as a babysitter, to a few months old baby, lasted one day
as a bus girl, lasted one day
as a Sterile Supply Technician at Vancouver General Hospital
as a kitchen helper at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre
as a janitor at the above
as a server at The Classical Joint Coffeehouse, a Vancouver famed nightspot that existed from 1968-1991 (the good old days) and was lit by candle light, it was at 231 Carrall Street in Gastown
as a customer service person at Cookies By George
as a barista at Starbucks, at one of the early locations on Robson & Thurlow, then promoted to “leader” in Kerrisdale
as a Santa Claus Polaroid photographer at a mall
as a house cleaner, lasted one day
as a print technician at a photo lab
as a photographer’s assistant, studio and location assistant, and B&W darkroom printer
as a freelance photographer doing mainly actor’s headshots
as a picture framer
as a flower seller, selling flowers by the liquor store, lasted one or two days
as a webmaster
as a freelance web designer
as an administrative assistant, a few times
as a gallery assistant (at the once well-known Diane Farris Gallery)
as a listings editor
as a freelance writer
as an ESL teacher
as a volunteer program assistant
as a bookkeeper
as a teaching assistant
as owner, maker, designer of a craft-based business
as a freelance grant writer
as a commercial kitchen assistant

¹Martin, Agnes, and Arnold B. Glimcher. Agnes Martin: Paintings, Writings, Remembrances. Phaidon Press, 2012.