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Job Switching by Melissa R. Strom
"Job Switching"
Created in 2022 by Melissa R. Strom
Broken VHS tape, ink, soft gel on polyester
20 x 24 inches
On a clear piece of polystyrene, the words “I've never been so bored in my life” are hand painted, spaced over the majority of the entire piece in a thick black ink. Layered over top of the text are the smashed bits and pieces of a black VHS tape. Most of the outer casing of the VHS tape sits in the top right corner of the piece. Although the center of it is smashed, we can see the text reading, “I Love Lucy.” The inner tape of the VHS spills and curls down the artwork, wrapping around the clear, circular plastic film reel. Bits of black and clear plastic from the smashed tape are sprinkled around the piece.
During the taping of I Love Lucy, season 2, episode 1 titled “Job Switching” (1952), Lucy and
Ethel go to work in a candy factory as their husbands do the housework. During the candy
striping scene, Lucille Ball allegedly worked on set with Amanda Milligan, a worker at See’s
Candies in Los Angeles, painting the swirls atop chocolates. As the story goes, when Lucy
asked Milligan if she enjoyed her stint in show business, she responded, "To be honest, I've
never been so bored in my life." Supposedly, her favorite pastimes were watching Monday
evening wrestling on television and candy dipping. “Job Switching” is one of the most infamous
episodes of the show to this day.
Welcome to the Real World will be on display at The Gallery at Steel Pixel Studios from May 15-July 7, 2023. There will be an artist reception on May 25 from 6:30-8pm. The Gallery at Steel Pixel Studios is located at 701 N New St. FL1, Bethlehem, PA 18018.
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By Steel Pixel Studios"Job Switching"
Created in 2022 by Melissa R. Strom
Broken VHS tape, ink, soft gel on polyester
20 x 24 inches
On a clear piece of polystyrene, the words “I've never been so bored in my life” are hand painted, spaced over the majority of the entire piece in a thick black ink. Layered over top of the text are the smashed bits and pieces of a black VHS tape. Most of the outer casing of the VHS tape sits in the top right corner of the piece. Although the center of it is smashed, we can see the text reading, “I Love Lucy.” The inner tape of the VHS spills and curls down the artwork, wrapping around the clear, circular plastic film reel. Bits of black and clear plastic from the smashed tape are sprinkled around the piece.
During the taping of I Love Lucy, season 2, episode 1 titled “Job Switching” (1952), Lucy and
Ethel go to work in a candy factory as their husbands do the housework. During the candy
striping scene, Lucille Ball allegedly worked on set with Amanda Milligan, a worker at See’s
Candies in Los Angeles, painting the swirls atop chocolates. As the story goes, when Lucy
asked Milligan if she enjoyed her stint in show business, she responded, "To be honest, I've
never been so bored in my life." Supposedly, her favorite pastimes were watching Monday
evening wrestling on television and candy dipping. “Job Switching” is one of the most infamous
episodes of the show to this day.
Welcome to the Real World will be on display at The Gallery at Steel Pixel Studios from May 15-July 7, 2023. There will be an artist reception on May 25 from 6:30-8pm. The Gallery at Steel Pixel Studios is located at 701 N New St. FL1, Bethlehem, PA 18018.