Saturday, September 13, 2008

Meaning Cleaning Pioneer

From and article written by Helen Molesworth: "House Work and Art Work", 2000 on Ukeles'; "Transfer: The Maintainance of the Art Object." (In this example the artist cleaned protective display cases as an artwork.)

"Normally this vitrine was cleaned by the janitor; however, once Ukeles' cleaning of the case was designated as "art" the responsibility of the cleaning and maintenance of this case became the job of the conservator."

I love the transference of responsibility and meaning that occurs from Ukeles' simple everyday domestic acts such as cleaning. Her intention coupled through her performances were able to switch and bring together that which was once seperated by an unsaid class structure. (i.e. the terms "Janitor and Conservator".) It's so cool she was able to break it down...

Presently, am looking at the possibilities of what we call into further question of what is "domestic" and why do we seperate our behavioral structures from how we are in the home and or "home land" and how we are when we percieve ourselves as "outside" of it. What is threatening about it. It's always funny to me the reactions we get when people become hostile to what we are doing. It's simple really, we are just taking responsibility for where we live. Yet, sometimes people are afraid that we could be doing something "other." It will be so interesting to interact with everyone we'll be meeting during these next coming performances... All of them will provide us with special information and exchanges to hopefully furhter inspire and open corridoors in our collective spaces within our "home" NYC.

xoxo...

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