"Although the photographic documentaion of these projects implies a relationship to performance art, they differ in striving to collapse the distinction between performer and audience, professional and amateur, productions and reception. Their emphasis is on collaboration, and the collective dimension of social experience."
-Claire Bishop; from the intro to book: "Participation."
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
e Waste shipped to poor areas throughout Africa and Albania
Sorry about that. Let's see if I can get the images this time...
Too busy getting our hustle on...
It was recently that I heard a European woman mentioning how horrible it was to go to the restroom in NYC. She said that no matter how "high end" the places she went to were, people would still pee all over the seat and not clean up after themselves leaving all kinds of different waste matter around as well. She was utterly disgusted and thought that for being a city that is one of the forefronts of culture and style we were all mostly filthy and behaved without much consideration for others.
Is it that most people in this city specifically are so overworked and tired that we can't see much past where we have to hustle to next? Then, as a result of an extended time in that mode of hustle, loses the sensitization of how we're interacting? Is there too much "out for self" as a unit and then the fragmentation happens into "us and them?" It seems that the filth does come from a sense of disconnect of how one's own actions contribute to the collective environment of the city itself, but also beyond as visitors pass through, or even worse when this mentality travels to other places and still does'nt wake up. Habits are hard to break. However, it's this disconnect that is interesting... the idea that "someone else" will take care of my waste so why take care with my own actions is bizarre.
I also had someone say to me, "Well if the MTA workers actually did their job well, we would not have to deal with all this." I thought of our last event with Meaning Cleaning and how if we all were a little more responsible, maybe it would be easier for the workers whose job is to MAINTAIN clean. Perhaps they would not be as disgruntled by the fact that while they're cleaning the stations or restrooms people are disrespecting their hard work by littering over it just as they have finished with no regard or respect. Similar to what we noticed as some people totally disregarded what was happening while we were cleaning (that it was a gift in a way) and just tarried on like cattle or horses with blinders. However, there were a good few who were very interested and thankful... it could be interesting to start asking people why about themselves when they ask us why. Also, to be looking good while we're cleaning is a throw off of what people expect to see.
The trends we're noticing makes it all the more important that these interuptions keep going! (What happens inside, happens outside. No seperation.) We can make the floors and spaces that we deal with become like reflecting pools with the aroma of the stress relieving and natural antiseptic qualities of lavender (instead of staleness and urine.) The interactions that we have are clues as to what is really happening. I like to believe there's hope. If anything, we will have done something not only beautiful and responsible, but will open forums for social discussion or reflection. It's interesting to see how we behave when confronted with the issues of taking care and responsibility for not only our own self, but seeing the self in the subways and through ways of our collective everyday. Maybe we can wake things up a bit?
Is it that most people in this city specifically are so overworked and tired that we can't see much past where we have to hustle to next? Then, as a result of an extended time in that mode of hustle, loses the sensitization of how we're interacting? Is there too much "out for self" as a unit and then the fragmentation happens into "us and them?" It seems that the filth does come from a sense of disconnect of how one's own actions contribute to the collective environment of the city itself, but also beyond as visitors pass through, or even worse when this mentality travels to other places and still does'nt wake up. Habits are hard to break. However, it's this disconnect that is interesting... the idea that "someone else" will take care of my waste so why take care with my own actions is bizarre.
I also had someone say to me, "Well if the MTA workers actually did their job well, we would not have to deal with all this." I thought of our last event with Meaning Cleaning and how if we all were a little more responsible, maybe it would be easier for the workers whose job is to MAINTAIN clean. Perhaps they would not be as disgruntled by the fact that while they're cleaning the stations or restrooms people are disrespecting their hard work by littering over it just as they have finished with no regard or respect. Similar to what we noticed as some people totally disregarded what was happening while we were cleaning (that it was a gift in a way) and just tarried on like cattle or horses with blinders. However, there were a good few who were very interested and thankful... it could be interesting to start asking people why about themselves when they ask us why. Also, to be looking good while we're cleaning is a throw off of what people expect to see.
The trends we're noticing makes it all the more important that these interuptions keep going! (What happens inside, happens outside. No seperation.) We can make the floors and spaces that we deal with become like reflecting pools with the aroma of the stress relieving and natural antiseptic qualities of lavender (instead of staleness and urine.) The interactions that we have are clues as to what is really happening. I like to believe there's hope. If anything, we will have done something not only beautiful and responsible, but will open forums for social discussion or reflection. It's interesting to see how we behave when confronted with the issues of taking care and responsibility for not only our own self, but seeing the self in the subways and through ways of our collective everyday. Maybe we can wake things up a bit?
Friday, February 22, 2008
Thoughts on meaning cleaning
February 22, 2008
I've been thinking about our last Meaning Cleaning all day. At the end of our work, with the removal of our homemade perimeter, commuters walked right over what we did without noticing anything at all. It was like it never happened. I did not expect anything really, but it felt immediately disrespectful to be so disregarded.
It made me very upset.
I was surprised by the general lack of awareness, surprised that people needed a "sign" not to pass through an area, but when that sign was removed, everyone just walked through very mechanically. Almost by rote. Everyone looked depressed and blank.
I know this city is one of 8 million people and it may be impossible to keep it clean all the time, but I can't help thinking about when I was in Kassel at Documenta this summer and had to use the toilet. I was expecting an overly used messy area (I mean there were portable and unmanaged after all) But to my great surprise..all bathroom areas were immaculate, even though thousands of people used them on a daily basis. They were perfectly maintained because everyone who used them kept them that way. There was no division between "us" and "them".
Sadly, that is not the case in New York City. We all litter, we all walk over homeless people, we all walk over newspapers in the streets. I cannot point the finger outward because I do it too. But it's still shocking to me that there seems to be a decline of awareness, a decline of care for each other in this city. I noticed that in a real way when we were done with our work in the subway transfer underpass. No one cared.
I've been thinking about our last Meaning Cleaning all day. At the end of our work, with the removal of our homemade perimeter, commuters walked right over what we did without noticing anything at all. It was like it never happened. I did not expect anything really, but it felt immediately disrespectful to be so disregarded.
It made me very upset.
I was surprised by the general lack of awareness, surprised that people needed a "sign" not to pass through an area, but when that sign was removed, everyone just walked through very mechanically. Almost by rote. Everyone looked depressed and blank.
I know this city is one of 8 million people and it may be impossible to keep it clean all the time, but I can't help thinking about when I was in Kassel at Documenta this summer and had to use the toilet. I was expecting an overly used messy area (I mean there were portable and unmanaged after all) But to my great surprise..all bathroom areas were immaculate, even though thousands of people used them on a daily basis. They were perfectly maintained because everyone who used them kept them that way. There was no division between "us" and "them".
Sadly, that is not the case in New York City. We all litter, we all walk over homeless people, we all walk over newspapers in the streets. I cannot point the finger outward because I do it too. But it's still shocking to me that there seems to be a decline of awareness, a decline of care for each other in this city. I noticed that in a real way when we were done with our work in the subway transfer underpass. No one cared.
MC video 1
Hayley sweeping the transfer station of E/V trains to Downtown 6 train
February 21, 2008
New York City
Meaning Cleaning February 21, 2008 continued
Hayley sweeping the floor with her hand held broom
Before the perimeter was created around our intervened space, people just walked by us, through us, without really noticing what we were doing. Hayley sweeping in the midst of subway transfer.
Perimeter view, contrast shiny floor vs. dirty and dull floor. Bringing women's work from the private to the public sphere.
Although the perimeter was made from ordinary objects, it did intervene well into the space. We diverted the flow of traffic around our area successfully.
Meaning Cleaning February 21, 2008
Meaning Cleaning
February 21, 2008
New York City
Collaboration between Hayley Severns and Angela Rose Voulgarelis Illgen
The underpass connecting the Downtown 6 train and the E/V trains at 51st Street has always had an aroma problem and a cleanliness problem. Underneath the Waldorf Astoria and W hotels, the subway station reeks of urine and is always covered in litter. One can feel the grime through one's shoes.
We arrived promptly at 2pm to address this issue.
Hayley began sweeping with a hand held broom. We decided to address an area and really clean to be in contrast to the rest of the station. We used the area between two columns and the wall.
Another shot of Hayley diligently sweeping. We expected stares and hecklers to say things to us, but at this point, we were pretty much ignored.
Once the area was swept, Angela began scrubbing it and applying wax and floor polish. An unintentional perimeter was created both by the shine of the floor and with Ajax jars and Fantastic bottles. Ironically, no one walked through the area once the perimeter was created. We intervened in the space and it was respected. For a brief moment.
Another shot of Angela cleaning.
February 21, 2008
New York City
Collaboration between Hayley Severns and Angela Rose Voulgarelis Illgen
The underpass connecting the Downtown 6 train and the E/V trains at 51st Street has always had an aroma problem and a cleanliness problem. Underneath the Waldorf Astoria and W hotels, the subway station reeks of urine and is always covered in litter. One can feel the grime through one's shoes.
We arrived promptly at 2pm to address this issue.
Hayley began sweeping with a hand held broom. We decided to address an area and really clean to be in contrast to the rest of the station. We used the area between two columns and the wall.
Another shot of Hayley diligently sweeping. We expected stares and hecklers to say things to us, but at this point, we were pretty much ignored.
Once the area was swept, Angela began scrubbing it and applying wax and floor polish. An unintentional perimeter was created both by the shine of the floor and with Ajax jars and Fantastic bottles. Ironically, no one walked through the area once the perimeter was created. We intervened in the space and it was respected. For a brief moment.
Another shot of Angela cleaning.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Meaning Cleaning February 21, 2008
February 21, 2008
Underpass between E/V trains and Downtown 6 train
New York City
2:00 - 3:30 pm
Collaboration between Hayley Severns and Angela Rose Voulgarelis Illgen
Supplies brought:
-Cleanser - 2 bottles
-Scrubbing pad - 5
-Yellow cloths - 4
-Floor wax - 2 bottles
-Floor shine - 1 bottle
-1 luggage cart
-1 shoulder bag
Hayley and I arrived at the same time to the underpass at 2pm. It has historically been one of the worst places to transfer for trains since I've been alive and living in New York. Always smells like urine, always littered with trash, always very busy with commuters.
TimeOut New York had recently featured a blurb about the station in its most recent issue, so the MTA cleaned the station a bit, but not enough where our work was not needed. It still smelled when we arrived, and it was still very grimy.
We decided to clean an area and make it spotless, a stark contrast to the rest of the transfer area. We wanted shiny floors and to infuse the space with lavender to contrast the urine aroma usually associated with that station.
We began on our hands and knees. Hayley swept the area with a hand held broom. I documented her process. I began scrubbing the floors after her, and then she continued on the opposite side of our area. It was interesting to notice our intervention in the space...we created a perimeter of Ajax cans and Fantastic bottles to keep people from stepping over our work, and it worked! People didn't walk through our work, with only the sign of the perimeter keeping them "out". It was really interesting.
Some people heckled us, all of them men.
Some people hated the smell of lavender and covered their faces with their jackets.
Many people walked by and thanked us. Many people said they loved the smell and thanked us for doing this. A Latino man said this was the first and best thing white people ever did in this country. He also segwayed into wanting us to see him naked when we were done cleaning.
We received good advice about where to buy high gloss floor shine products.
We told an MTA worker we had permission to be there.
The intervention/collaboration took about 1.5 hours. When we removed the sign of the perimeter, everyone just walked right over it as if it had never happened. That made me surprisingly angry. Once the sign was gone, it was as if we were never there.
Underpass between E/V trains and Downtown 6 train
New York City
2:00 - 3:30 pm
Collaboration between Hayley Severns and Angela Rose Voulgarelis Illgen
Supplies brought:
-Cleanser - 2 bottles
-Scrubbing pad - 5
-Yellow cloths - 4
-Floor wax - 2 bottles
-Floor shine - 1 bottle
-1 luggage cart
-1 shoulder bag
Hayley and I arrived at the same time to the underpass at 2pm. It has historically been one of the worst places to transfer for trains since I've been alive and living in New York. Always smells like urine, always littered with trash, always very busy with commuters.
TimeOut New York had recently featured a blurb about the station in its most recent issue, so the MTA cleaned the station a bit, but not enough where our work was not needed. It still smelled when we arrived, and it was still very grimy.
We decided to clean an area and make it spotless, a stark contrast to the rest of the transfer area. We wanted shiny floors and to infuse the space with lavender to contrast the urine aroma usually associated with that station.
We began on our hands and knees. Hayley swept the area with a hand held broom. I documented her process. I began scrubbing the floors after her, and then she continued on the opposite side of our area. It was interesting to notice our intervention in the space...we created a perimeter of Ajax cans and Fantastic bottles to keep people from stepping over our work, and it worked! People didn't walk through our work, with only the sign of the perimeter keeping them "out". It was really interesting.
Some people heckled us, all of them men.
Some people hated the smell of lavender and covered their faces with their jackets.
Many people walked by and thanked us. Many people said they loved the smell and thanked us for doing this. A Latino man said this was the first and best thing white people ever did in this country. He also segwayed into wanting us to see him naked when we were done cleaning.
We received good advice about where to buy high gloss floor shine products.
We told an MTA worker we had permission to be there.
The intervention/collaboration took about 1.5 hours. When we removed the sign of the perimeter, everyone just walked right over it as if it had never happened. That made me surprisingly angry. Once the sign was gone, it was as if we were never there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
