Door Number One, Side One:
As I am preparing the door that I received from
Habitat for Humanity, I have been reflecting on the door’s history. I have been
wondering what type of room did the door provide an entrance and exit to. I
also have been wondering who used it and if the door could speak what secretes
does it keep. When I started to sand down the old varnish to bring new life to
the old door, I slowly recognized my own path. I went through a variety of ideas
of how I could possibly present the front of the door, which relates to not
really belonging to any particular community. After sometime, I came to the
conclusion after much brainstorming and discussion with my wife, that I would
paint myself in a desert taking a journey in search of belonging, acceptance
and love. My desert experience depicted in this painting was when I was
twenty-one and depressed. I had just moved across Canada to a place called
Medicine Hat, Alberta that was 3000 miles away from home in search of self.
Awesome! I love that you are reusing the door too and not buying a brand new one. I often am drawn to discarded craft projects at thrift stores and I find myself wanting to finish them (this may be a project I do later in life) - but too am curious about the history of items and we as a culture so easily discard things. It's nice to see them given new life.
ReplyDeleteInteresting concept. We open doors in search of self, experiences, or other things and we don't know what we will find. The doors hide what is behind it and you have to wander in deeply to learn/live deeply. The outside of the door can be just a faint hint or reflection of what is coming.
ReplyDeleteDavid I love that you’re incorporating the doors history and considering its narrative as part of the work. Brush strokes in the sky and mountains are great! Love the pallet too!
ReplyDeleteI too wonder about who lives in homes, and if walls could talk what would they say, I love that you think about that! Not many take time to reflect upon the past and where we were and how far we have come, to where we are going! What great art therapy! Absolutely BEAUTIFUL door! I love how your using your past, I can't wait to see how these develop and transpire! Amazing!
ReplyDeleteA great beginning for your doors....you.
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be a great series. It is cathartic and freeing to return to the past and make something beautiful out of painful and difficult experiences. Your color sense is lovely.. the way you used the yellows from the sky to embrace the upper part of your torso makes it appear to be pulling you into that beautiful sky. The reds underneath your feet as shadows are also quite striking.
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