Unsuppor ted
Mother s
Handbook
point out: ?We?r e never ?out of wor k?. If we?r e not at wor k, we?r e cooking, cleaning, looking after kids?. Because this work can?t be measured in economic ter ms, it is perceived by society to have no value (although cooking, cleaning and childcare are respectable enough if car r ied out for other s for financial recompense). How does it change the status of these tasks if they are located in an Mierle Laderman Ukeles, Touch Sanitation, Image: Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, New York
ar t context?
worker
gesture
used per for mance elements to create
intended not only to thank the
an open dialogue with the women?s
individuals for their ser vice but also
group on the theme of cleaning. The
to
the
Down and Dir ty Dinner Par ty was
impor tance of their work, visible, to
hosted in the home of one of the
challenge their ?lousy status?.
women, and all the group were
in
make
the
their
city,
work,
a
and
I began my research with a piece that
invited (in total 8 member s of the I was interested in explor ing these
group attended).
concepts with the member s of the no
I ar r ived late after noon and spent
str anger s to the idea of ?lousy
sever al hour s cleaning the floor, as
status?. There has been much talk
the usual daily activity of the home
from public sector agencies about
car r ied on around me, reminiscent
tackling
of my cleaning in the subway. I
women?s
group,
themselves
?worklessness?
on
the
estate, but as the author s of the 19 then set out a selection of fresh food