Flickr Photo Credit: Darwin Bell
The incorporation of a dramatic entry way has been discussed many times in decorating circles. While I agree it’s a simple thing to incorporate, that’s not the type of door art I want to discuss today.
The ideas I’m referring to involve the use of actual doors as the canvas or backdrop to a traditional painting, and hanging them on your walls (perhaps even horizontally) instead of a traditional framed piece. During some of our international travels, I’ve noticed two specific ideas that immediately come to mind.
First, I was in an international airport waiting for a flight when I noticed a dramatic, museum quality piece of artwork on the wall. As I got closer, I could tell that it was a standard sized core door turned horizontally and hung on the wall. The painting that covered it in this case had the feel of colorful children’s art work, but it would have been just as successful as an art project if the artwork had been more modern in nature, or even a large portrait or landscape. Because of the width of the door, the piece stood out from the brightly colored wall a good distance, which very much gave it the feel of a museum piece. I was discussing this with a colleague once who used to work in a program for women’s prison inmates. I suggested this as a very therapeutic art project to incorporate when they women are getting ready to be released. The use of an actual “new door” for each of them, combined with the fact that large pieces make a dramatic impact in a small space (which is all transitioning inmates are usually able to afford), would make for a positive fresh start after rehabilitation. She called the warden immediately to suggest it. I would think this idea would be equally positive for women’s transition shelters or homeless programs, not to mention your own home.
The second “door art” project was one both David and I were taken with. These pieces were featured in a very trendy art gallery in Desanzano, Italy, on the shores of Lake Garda. Basically, the scenes were painted on old cabinet doors that had come from various renovations and salvage yards around the area. The hinges and door handles were still attached and incorporated into the paintings as if they weren’t even there. Very dramatic and unique. These doors are things that I would imagine you could probably get for free, particularly if you had a nonprofit which channeled them to various needy groups.
For us, there are a boat load of cabinet and room to room doors in this family cottage we purchased, and we are considering using this idea to incorporate them as art into our new place. Will try to post when we have them completed.
