While performing Maintenance Art at the “Now” sculpture outside the USU, I felt as though I was cleaning rather than doing any sort of art. However, it was nice to see students coming together, and I was happy to be cleaning it because of how dirty the sculpture had become.
Mierle Laderman Ukeles cleaning the steps of an art museum is visually a different approach to art than Richard Serra flinging molten lead against a wall. They are both the same in the instance that both of the creators wanted to be recognized as artists. I think that Richard’s approach would be considered to be the more classic art piece. Meanwhile, I think that Mierle was seeking recognition for all the hard work women put into life, and wanted it to be known as a form of art too.
Mierle Laderman Ukeles’ Maintenance Art performance was art because she declared it was. Art is something that was created to make people realize something or feel a certain emotion, whether it be in the form of paint, song, a performance, or anything along those lines. The location of her performance did not need to be at an Art Museum for her to call it art. I believe that if she was a janitor, and while doing her job someone called it art, then she would have made an impression on that person for them to call it art. Art is art because of the stimulation it brings, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a bright and pretty painting. The medium doesn’t define the title. A canvas painting can be art if someone is impacted by its beauty or meaning, and the same goes for the painting of a house. Art is something that a person is proud enough to expose to others because of its ability to make someone feel something.
I hate the term “Women’s work”. What is that even supposed to mean? It’s 2020 and we are still separating everyday things -that ANY human being should be able to do- from those that a woman does? That is degrading and demeaning. In both Jennifer Lopez and Mierle Laderman’s “Women’s work” pieces, there is a clear indication that the cooking, cleaning, and other household chores are being classified as exclusively women’s work; while women are capable of so much more. All the things women do, not only around the house, but in their professional lives as well, should be considered art if it is stimulating another person’s emotions. They do so much and are artists of everyday life.
I cannot say there is anyone on Hollywood Blvd that I would get on my hands and knees for. The people on the walk-of-fame have the money to hire someone to clean their star, so there is no point for me to do that. The only person I would get on my hands and knees to clean their star is Harry Styles, and at this day and time he does not have a star on Hollywood Blvd.
Siobhan Hernandez 