Glen Baxter may be better know as the host of CTV’s IN FASHION, and reporter for the Fashion Television Channel, but give the guy a camera and his true artistry shines.

I had the pleasure of attending a photo exhibit for the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, Pervasive Influence.

Walking into the Hugo Boss store on tony Bloor Street, I’m met with sideways glances from pinched-faced employees.  Ignoring them, I follow the signs to the exhibit located up up and up on the third floor.  Climbing the stairs reminds me to get back on the stair master at the gym, but the climb is worth it, because the photos are raw and real.

For this exhibit, Glen Baxter travelled to Azerbaijan, a former Republic of the USSR that is affected by war, conflict and border disputes.  These are a population of people displaced from their homes, living in virtual exile and the photos reflect their struggles and their strengths.

Glen has captured the subjects in raw and real moments of their day to day lives.  The faces staring back have a story on the lips, a story of the juxtaposition of hard living amongst a fairy tale landscape.  The hard lines that crease the people’s faces betray the hope and passion in the eyes.

P.S.  Passion’s what I felt leaving the exhibit, but passion isn’t what was to be found in the eyes of the Hugo Boss employees.  What was with employees motioning to each other as I came and went from the exhibit.  Really? Secret hand gestures?.

Perhaps they were giving the “all-clear” that I in fact was not shoplifting (thanks!), but truly attending the exhibit.  All I could think was a famous line from AbFab: “You only work in a shop, you know.  You can drop the attitude.”

* The Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival continues to support RIGHT TO PLAY, a leading international humanitarian and development organization to build essential skills in children using the power of sport to transform communities affected by war, poverty and disease. A wonderful cause indeed!