1 of 5
Door painted by Becky Brooks in Scuffletown Park
Kevin Orlosky photo
2 of 5
Heidi Trepanier's door at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Kevin Orlosky photo
3 of 5
Holton Elementary's door at the Downtown Marriott
Kevin Orlosky photo
4 of 5
James Thornhill's door at the Black History Museum
Kevin Orlosky photo
5 of 5
Parker Galore's door at Bryan Park
Kevin Orlosky photo
One of the largest public art installations in years will be on display in Richmond from now through October — all you need to do is find it.
Find Art Doors is an outdoor, citywide art installation of 40 doors featuring the work of local artists, organizations and art students. Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH), a non-profit dedicated to providing permanent solutions to homelessness through their housing program, is behind this collaborative campaign.
Meant to encourage outdoor exploration, art appreciation, and homelessness awareness, the four-month installation is spread throughout Richmond and its parks, including the Virginia Museum's Sculpture Garden, the Canal Walk and the Byrd Park Boathouse.
“Part of the exploration is to get people to visit parts of the city they haven't seen before,” says Andrea Butler, senior director of mission advancement at VSH.
Partnering with Art on Wheels, a non-profit bringing art programs to communities with limited access to the arts, has allowed VSH to find local, volunteer artists such as Matt Lively and Heidi Trepanier to paint the doors. Groups including SPARC and the Richmond Autism Integration Network also will participate as will undiscovered artists and volunteers.
A sign is placed at every painted door, telling stories about formerly homeless people who benefitted from VSH. The signs also provide information about the artist who painted them.
Each door will have a sign that will tell a little bit about the person behind the door...,” Butler explains, “and about their journey to get out of homelessness.”
She hopes the installation will correct common misconceptions about homelessness. “When you read the stories, you realize [these homeless individuals] were teachers, and homemakers and professionals,” she says.
The artists were not asked to paint with any theme in mind, nor are the doors explicitly tied to the stories that accompany each door, but the message remains the same throughout this family-friendly activity: “We want people to know there is a solution to homelessness,” Butler says. “Supportive housing works, Ninety-five percent of those we serve do not become homeless again.”
The Find Art Doors self-guided tour is accessible through an online mobile site and interactive map at findartdoorsrva.org. The first five people who visit all 40 doors and post photos of them to Instagram with the hashtag #findartdoors will receive prizes, which include tickets to King's Dominion and a champagne brunch at The Jefferson.
While the Find Art Doors tour is free, donations will be accepted online and will be divided between VSH and Art on Wheels. Each door also will be available for purchase through an online auction. Website visitors will be asked to vote for their favorite doors and the top five to will appear in live auction this fall.
For details, visit findartdoorsrva.org.
