The Waitresses (artists)
Encyclopedia
The Waitresses were a collaborative feminist performance art
group that formed in 1977. The group consisted of artists that also worked as waitresses in Los Angeles, California
. The group was active from their inception until 1985.
by Feminist Studio Workshop (FSW) graduates Jerri Allyn
and Anne Gauldin in 1977. The two formed the group after Allyn saw Gauldin perform at the FSW, where Gauldin blackened her eyes, served drinks; attempting to convey that the drinks and the role of waitressing was poisonous. Allyn was deeply moved, having been working as a waitress for seven years. Their first performance was Ready to Order? in which Allyn, Gauldin, Patti Nicklaus, Jamie Wildman and Denise Yarfitz participated in. The group eventually grew to 14 people, including Elizabeth Canelake, Anne Mavor, Anita Green, and Chutney Gunderson Berry. The Waitresses performed until 1985. They are credited as a precursor to feminist art advocates the Guerrilla Girls
. Currently, The Waitresses are featured in an exhibition about the Woman's Building, "Doin' It In Public", at Otis College of Art and Design.
, and stereotypes of women. They also explored the sexualization of waitresses, as "sex objects, slaves, whores, and women who perform a service." Allyn used her own experience as a waitress to channel the idea of the waitress as a prostitute; making more money in tips from male customers by dressing sexier, and how that experience was universal in waitressing and sexist by concept. The group would also interview waitresses to pull inspiration from their experiences.
Ready to Order?, the groups first performance, involved a sexually provocative waitress earning a big tip. The piece was a part of a 7-day, site specific conceptual work conceived by Jerri Allyn, and was performed during business hours at a local Los Angeles restaurant. In 1979 The Waitresses, consisting of 35 participants, marked in the Pasadena Doo Dah Parade
as the "All City Waitress Marching Band." The group marched wearing waitressing uniforms, led by a bandleader
, the band members performed an original piece based around the song "McNamara's Band
", playing pots
, pants and cooking tools instead of traditional instruments. In 2007 Allyn, Gaudlin, Anne Mavor, Denise Yarfitz Pierre and 37 women, men, and children marched in the Doo Dah Parade again, as the All City Waitress Marching Band, marching in support of pay equity.
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
group that formed in 1977. The group consisted of artists that also worked as waitresses in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. The group was active from their inception until 1985.
History
The Waitresses were co-founded at the Woman's BuildingWoman's Building
The Woman's Building was an non-profit arts and education center located in Los Angeles, California, in the United States. The Woman's Building focused on feminist art and served as a venue for the women's movement and was spearheaded by artist Judy Chicago, graphic designer Sheila Levrant de...
by Feminist Studio Workshop (FSW) graduates Jerri Allyn
Jerri Allyn
Jerri Allyn is a feminist performance and installation artist and educator based in Los Angeles, California. Allyn earned an MA in Art and Community from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont and also attended The Feminist Studio Workshop at the Los Angeles Woman's Building.Allyn was active in the...
and Anne Gauldin in 1977. The two formed the group after Allyn saw Gauldin perform at the FSW, where Gauldin blackened her eyes, served drinks; attempting to convey that the drinks and the role of waitressing was poisonous. Allyn was deeply moved, having been working as a waitress for seven years. Their first performance was Ready to Order? in which Allyn, Gauldin, Patti Nicklaus, Jamie Wildman and Denise Yarfitz participated in. The group eventually grew to 14 people, including Elizabeth Canelake, Anne Mavor, Anita Green, and Chutney Gunderson Berry. The Waitresses performed until 1985. They are credited as a precursor to feminist art advocates the Guerrilla Girls
Guerrilla Girls
Guerrilla Girls are an anonymous group of feminists devoted to fighting against sexism within the visual fine art world internationally. Started in New York City in 1985 to protest gender and racial inequality in the art world, members are known for the gorilla masks they wear to keep their...
. Currently, The Waitresses are featured in an exhibition about the Woman's Building, "Doin' It In Public", at Otis College of Art and Design.
Performance and vision
The Waitresses revolved around the exploration of the unity seen within the work waitresses around the world perform. The group focused on four themes: work, money, sexual harassmentSexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
, and stereotypes of women. They also explored the sexualization of waitresses, as "sex objects, slaves, whores, and women who perform a service." Allyn used her own experience as a waitress to channel the idea of the waitress as a prostitute; making more money in tips from male customers by dressing sexier, and how that experience was universal in waitressing and sexist by concept. The group would also interview waitresses to pull inspiration from their experiences.
Ready to Order?, the groups first performance, involved a sexually provocative waitress earning a big tip. The piece was a part of a 7-day, site specific conceptual work conceived by Jerri Allyn, and was performed during business hours at a local Los Angeles restaurant. In 1979 The Waitresses, consisting of 35 participants, marked in the Pasadena Doo Dah Parade
Doo Dah Parade
The Pasadena Doo Dah Parade is a popular farcical and flamboyant parade held in Pasadena, California about once a year, usually in the fall or winter...
as the "All City Waitress Marching Band." The group marched wearing waitressing uniforms, led by a bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
, the band members performed an original piece based around the song "McNamara's Band
McNamara's Band
McNamara's Band is the title of a popular song recorded in late 1945 by the singer Bing Crosby. It is the tongue-in-cheek story of a small Irish band penned by the song writing team of O'Connor and Stanford....
", playing pots
Cookware and bakeware
Cookware and bakeware are types of food preparation containers commonly found in the kitchen. Cookware comprises cooking vessels, such as saucepans and frying pans, intended for use on a stove or range cooktop. Bakeware comprises cooking vessels intended for use inside an oven...
, pants and cooking tools instead of traditional instruments. In 2007 Allyn, Gaudlin, Anne Mavor, Denise Yarfitz Pierre and 37 women, men, and children marched in the Doo Dah Parade again, as the All City Waitress Marching Band, marching in support of pay equity.
Notable performances
- The All American Waitress Radio Show; Pacifica RadioPacifica RadioPacifica Radio is the oldest public radio network in the United States. It is a group of five independently operated, non-commercial, listener-supported radio stations that is known for its progressive/liberal political orientation. It is also a program service supplying over 100 affiliated...
- The All City Waitress Marching Band; Doo Dah ParadeDoo Dah ParadeThe Pasadena Doo Dah Parade is a popular farcical and flamboyant parade held in Pasadena, California about once a year, usually in the fall or winter...