LEXINGTON, Ky. — A new documentary from a University of Kentucky researcher is shining a light on the often-unseen work that keeps a university campus running smoothly.

"The Keeping Space," created by Jena Seiler, a Ph.D. lecturer at the Lewis Honors College, focuses on custodian Shelia Lackey and her daily maintenance work at the college. Rather than treating cleaning as invisible labor, Seiler reframes it as skilled practice worthy of celebration.

"Cleaning is about skill," Seiler said in the documentary. "You develop a practice around how to do it best. That might be surprising to people, considering how much attention and thought goes into this kind of work, especially for Shelia."

Seiler, whose creative practice focuses on helping audiences see the extraordinary in everyday life, became interested in maintenance work after noticing the constant effort required to keep university spaces functional. She approached Lackey about documenting her story, and Lackey readily agreed.

The film explores not only the labor itself but also its ripple effects, showing how the care and attention Lackey brings to her work extends to her family, social circle and community. As Seiler worked with Lackey over time, her understanding of the project deepened from studying labor as a concept to recognizing the interconnected relationships and values at its core.

"This project is about how we celebrate people, especially those in spaces that have been overlooked or are not paid enough," Seiler said. "It's about connecting with others, and that kind of work is worth doing."

Earlier this year, the documentary was featured at Lexington's Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center, where Seiler and co-director Nicole Martin, former Lewis Honors College director of academic affairs, participated in a post-screening discussion. The film has also earned wider recognition, gaining selections to Single Channel's fifth annual Video Festival and the 18th International Moving Film Festival in Mexico. For the international screening, Seiler collaborated with Lewis Honors College freshman Angela Angulo-Rugerio to translate the documentary for Spanish-speaking audiences.

The documentary was supported by grants from the Celebrating University Research Across the Enterprise (CURATE) program, which is funded by the University of Kentucky's Office of the Vice President for Research.