Public Works

PUBLIC WORKS

Public Service Employees

Public Services employees from a variety of divisions began participating in block printing workshops a year ago under the guidance of printmaker Daniel Minter. In these workshops employees produced images about their jobs and personal heritages, creating a dictionary of images used to tell their stories. Final images were exhibited in the mechanics garages, recycling center, lunch room, and the accounting office. To extend the visibility and increase awareness of work accomplished by Public Services employees, selected images will be printed onto paper coffee cups with the name, job, years of service and a quote from individual employees. In partnership with local coffee vendors, a series of the printed cups will be used throughout Portland in July 2009. The project will also produce several temporary art installations that will be placed throughout the city. Each installation will represent a division’s work—traffic signs, painting park benches, street light repair, sanitation—and will be identifiable as art by the presence of a ceramic version of the printed coffee cups.