Speaker 1

Hi. Welcome to the podcast. My name is Rebecca and I’m a sophomore at Wake Forest. This project amplifies the perspectives of facilities employees and their interactions with art.

Thank you so much for meeting with me today. I’m really excited to chat with you. Thanks for your time. First, can you tell me a little bit about what type of work you do within Wake Forest facilities?

Speaker 2

As far as work, I work in the ZSR Library. I am a janitor for this building to upkeep to make it standards for you all to be able to come here and study and do whatever you need to do homework as far as anything like that.

Speaker 1

And do these buildings have artwork on the wall?

Speaker 2

Yes, they do. I’ve kind of noticed them as I was like, walking, like walking into the building like when I do my routine, so.

Speaker 1

Yeah, very nice. So you do notice the artwork and are there any artworks in particular that stand out to you?

Speaker 2

I think it’s just a picture of Maya Angelou that I see on the fourth floor. I think it’s fifth floor. I can’t remember. That’s okay, yeah. I kind of like how I think it’s an abstract version. I can’t remember what it is.

Speaker 1

Very nice. Yeah, and what about this particular artwork stands out to you?

Speaker 2

I guess kind of the art style of it.

Speaker 1

Yeah. Okay. So like, the colors and the textures.

Speaker 2

Colors and texture of it, it kind of draws the person’s eye towards it. When you look at it, it kind of like, kind of look around the whole picture, like a detailed description. 

Speaker 1

Okay, very nice. I like that. And what do you think about Wake Forest having original art in the building? Is that something that you like or something? Do you have any thoughts about that?

Speaker 2

I think that would be really cool to have here, because I guess art’s kind of a, kind of perspective on the person’s view, so by having different kinds of arts in the building, then it kind of catches people’s attention and it kind of gets, I guess, something for students to look at where people look at when they come here.

Speaker 1

Yeah. Okay. That’s really great. I like that. And does the artwork enhance the building and the environment in a positive or negative way?

Speaker 2

I guess it gives us a nice, classy vibe to the building. Okay.

Speaker 1

Yeah, that’s good. And when you think about the art while you’re also doing your work as well, does it affect your mood as you’re working at all?

Speaker 2

Yes. I kind of listen to jazz music. It kind of gives me, like, a nice chill, like, chill day.

Speaker 1

What kind of jazz music do you like?

Speaker 2

Kind of like just like free jazz. No lyrics or anything. 

Speaker 1

That’s so cool.

Speaker 1

I like that. Very awesome. And does the artwork affect do you feel more motivated to work or you’re talking about music also and kind of how that creates an environment for you. The music and the art on the wall, does that affect your motivate you at all if you work or?

Speaker 2

Yeah, it kind of gives me like, a mindset where I can just do my job and kind of get through the day. So I’m not really kind of focused. I just kind of do it. Not really anything stress on me day to day.

Speaker 1

That’s good. Yeah, that’s good. So it kond of, would you say it releases the stress then?

Speaker 2

Yes, most definitely.

Speaker 1

That’s awesome.

Speaker 2

I’m here for eight hours a day. I’m like 8:00 to 9:00.

Speaker 1

Oh my goodness.

Speaker 2

The whole day.

Speaker 1

Wow, that’s so long.

Speaker 3

Well, I’m so happy that I got to meet you and talk to you. It’s like so cool. I feel like I usually don’t get to chat with employees at Wake and so this is really exciting. I appreciate it.