The Art of Service and Being Served

Guest Editorial contributed by Ed Woodham, Founder

Art in Odd Places

Readers - allow me to introduce you to a true, post-renaissance iconoclast. Ed Woodham and I met and bonded as part of an “elite” charrette-gathering of artists and thinkers in preparation for EXPO2020DUBAI (the same one wherein I was told that if I mentioned the importance of taking a benchmarking look at Global Village as part of our research on destination entertainment in the Middle East, I would be asked to leave the forum…yeah that one…I get thrown out of some of the best places…).

The man is brilliant, his creativity limitless, his sense of boundary and restraint virtually nonexistent…and has been a welcome participant in this season’s MasterClass (see? Y’all oughta come to these classes; y’just never know who’ll be sitting next to you…) In any event…

Ed is an independent elder Southern queer conceptual social absurdist artist, curator, producer, and educator entangled in a mélange of NYC and international activities across media and culture for over 45 years. Woodham employs humor, irony, subtle detournement, and a striking visual style to encourage greater consideration of – and provoke deeper critical engagement – within the urban environment. He created the public visual and performance art project Art in Odd Places (AiOP) as a response to vanishing public space and personal civil liberties.

His inspiration for this piece was born of an intense conversation we’d had in Session 2 of the cohort, last week; and he shared it with us, this week. It is with his permission that I share it with y’all - now, especially pertinent, as we enter the IAAPA/SATE/Summit/AZA/Wondertech/WhatAreYouDoingTheseDays/Project planning/Seed-planting Season

Key Links: https://edwoodham.com/ and https://artinoddplaces.org/about/

Service, in its truest form, is far more than the simple transaction of one individual providing something and another receiving it. Whether in a restaurant, caregiving, a classroom, or a professional setting – service is an exchange of energy, presence, and humanity. Too often, the relationship between server and served is framed hierarchically: the server as subordinate, the served as superior. Yet when service is approached as a partnership built on mutual respect and appreciation, both parties flourish. The dynamic becomes not just efficient, but meaningful.

At the heart of excellent service lies recognition of shared dignity. The person providing the service brings skill, labor, and often emotional intelligence to the interaction. The one receiving the service brings trust, openness, and the willingness to engage. When either side dismisses the humanity of the other, the relationship breaks down into exploitation or entitlement. By contrast, when both honor each other’s role, the experience becomes an exchange of equals different in function, but not in worth.

Mutual respect in service fosters authenticity. The server is not reduced to an invisible robotic provider of needs but seen as a professional with agency. Likewise, the served is not treated as a burden or an obstacle, but as someone worthy of care and attention. In this way, appreciation flows in both directions. The one served recognizes that service is not automatic but offered with skill and intention. The server, in turn, acknowledges the opportunity to contribute and to make a difference in another’s life.

This partnership transforms the quality of the interaction. A meal in a restaurant where the staff is respected and valued tastes excellent because it is infused with care. A classroom where the teacher respects the students as much as the students respect the teacher, becomes fertile ground for learning. Even small exchanges, such as holding open a door or assisting a stranger can resonate when both people generously value the opportune moment as a cooperative caring gesture.

Mutual appreciation strengthens resilience in the face of difficulty. Service environments are often stressful, fast-paced, and demanding. Mistakes or delays are inevitable. When the relationship is grounded in respect, such challenges are met with patience and understanding, rather than aggression. Both server and served can acknowledge the imperfection while still upholding the dignity of the exchange.

Service is not about servitude. It is about connection. The acknowledged partnership of server and served is at its best when it transcends roles and reminds both parties that they are participants in a united goal and the collective fabric of society. Each act of service, no matter how small, becomes a chance to practice communal empathy, gratitude, and recognition. In a world that often values productivity over humanity, this mutual respect is essential.

Ultimately, service is less about what is given or received, and more about how we meet each other at the very start. Whether hailing a ride, picking up takeout, standing in a checkout line, or entering into a professional agreement – we are all servers and served at different points in our lives each day. The roles shift, but the need for respect and appreciation never changes. When we carry that understanding into each exchange, service becomes not just functional but profound – a reminder that even in the smallest interactions, we can choose connection over hierarchy, gratitude over assumption, and a common partnership over power. It’s a “win-win” – in these fragile times.