How are we able to do what we do? Who helps us? What can get in our way?
Many of us think of teachers, mentors, colleagues and our parents as being helpful. We think of self-doubt and finances as barriers. But what about the physical, material barriers? Who helps us with those?
Custodial and maintenance workers are those who take away all the trash, compostables and recyclables, all the germs and hazardous materials that mount up each day. They remove obstacles, clearing our path so we can move forward and do what we need to do.
With these hands... is my public art installation on Sound Transit's construction walls at Brooklyn Avenue Northeast, just south of North 45th Street, the future site of Seattle's University District Light Rail Station. It pays tribute to all custodial and maintenance workers, particularly the 243 who work at the University of Washington (UW), serving 98,000 students, faculty and staff. Together, they:
clean 11.3 million square feet of floors
clean over 4,000 toilets
collect 13,073 tons of waste
recycle 8,569 tons of materials
and clear the way for 98,000 students, faculty and staff.
The workers I feature on the posters answered the following questions:
What are some things you want other people to know about you?
Why did you become a custodian or maintenance worker?
How do you bring value to your work? What value or benefit do you see in your work?
