Step by step progress - where will this door lead?!
This project involves selection a door from one of two Restore Victoria locations and creating art for the Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser held at Mayfair Mall, April 22 through May 23, 2024.
Why a bi-fold? I could just get it into my car. When I placed it in my studio, I got thinking: more questions than answers.
Initially, I envisioned two figures talking to each other with the bi-fold lightly closed so that the figures could appear to be nestled in “connection.” I still like that idea, but practicality, in the form of hinges, got in the way.
I flipped the door over and a new idea began to take shape: a tree of life. My own progress through life has taught me that the essence of living is growing—and sharing—understanding. This is surely so at a corporate or governance level as well as in community building and personal interactions. In this context, I adapt the analogy, shamelessly loading symbology to imbue the door with positive meaning for those who wish to support Habitat for Humanity with a fundraising bid and then install the bi-fold in a suitable (32” x 80”) opening, perhaps a foyer closet.
A paper mock-up helped to align thoughts.
The seven primary chakra are represented by coloured balls1.
Red: root chakra, associated with physicality, stability, grounding
Orange: sacral chakra, symbolizing creativity, sexuality, pleasure
Yellow: solar plexus chakra, centre of personal power, confidence, self-esteem
Green: heart chakra, with meanings of love and compassion
Blue: throat chakra, open for communication
Indigo: third eye chakra, associated with imagination, intuition
Violet: crown chakra, linked throughout with awareness, discernment
A frame of acanthus leaves surrounds the tree, adding an ancient western symbology that can be interpreted to represent achievement through adversity. This seems meaningful to me in relation to the beneficial gift of Habitat for Humanity for families who become part of community through a new home.
As the concept took shape, I prepared the door with a light sanding and a graphite sketch. The underpainting involved building up some of the acanthus leaves with Durham’s Water Putty. Tricky stuff! The remainder of the leaves are picked out with a gesso, and gesso and putty mix, to give differing dimensions that (I hope) will add to their eventual colouration with soft pastel.
Adding colours to the chakra balls led me to expand the colour ground through the background of the piece using a mono print techniue, overlayed with sponge impressions. These emerged to reflect Gilbert Baker’s rainbow flag, resolved to six colours in 19792 with long standing meanings. Designed as a joyful symbology of hope for a people persecuted through time, the flag represents uniting aspects of life for all.
🔴 life
🟠 healing
🟡 sunlight
🟢 nature
🔵 serenity
🟣 spirit
Compartmentalizing, as is currently in vogue, was never intended. These meanings are universal.
Chinese characters in the four corners represent Earth, Air, Fire and Water, grounding elements for life and a nod to my past life leading the archives and Government Records Service in Hong Kong. History is important to me. As one who has experienced the separation within family that is all too common to western societies, I recognize the loss of family history and continuity as a factor in the need that underlies Habitat for Humanity’s good works.
The video as the top of this post is where I am at for now. Stay tuned: I’ll update this post with a photo of the completed bi-fold door closer to the date of the auction.
And, here it is, mine is Door #48, on view at Mayfair Centre through May 22, 2024.
I have drawn upon Gretchen Staetler’s explanation of chakra but interpret the Crown chakra to represent discernment rather than intelligence. The latter is a variable and limited capacity, while we all have capacity to be aware and discern. https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/7-chakras#The-takeaway
https://gilbertbaker.com/rainbow-flag-color-meanings/
Art Project: Habitat for Humanity