DETROIT: Door of OPPORTUNITY Exhibition
If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door
Milton Berle
Symbols of beginnings, transitions, endings and entrances into new worlds and places, doors are the perfect medium to tell the Detroit story; its past, its present and it future.
About Detroit door of opportunity Door of Opportunity is a traveling exhibition displaying the creativity and opportunities in Detroit for artists. What makes this exhibit unique is the visual art in this exhibition is actual doors transformed into art. Participants range from students to seniors, emerging artists, and seasoned artists – all Metro Detroit residents. This is not a competition or juried show. It is open to all Metro-Detroiters who want to create. We are starting our second year and our vision is clear; to continually tour around the city bringing more art to communities; to install doors in Metro-Detroit neighborhoods and communities as visual symbols of the opportunity that exist in Detroit for all Detroit residents.
Doors are a symbol of beginnings, transitions, endings and entrances into new worlds and places; a perfect medium to creatively tell the Detroit story; its past, its present and it future. This city of innovation and trailblazing; open to new things while treasuring the old.
How Does this Project Work 1. In February, DMJStudio distributes an official Call to Artists to participate in Detroit Door of Opportunity. Interested parties can sign up on-line at www.dmjstudio.com/doors. Sign up for this project is closed the first week of March. 2. Participants pick up a door from a designated pick-up location. Doors are provided at no cost. 3. Completed doors are due early July and are dropped off at a designated location. This is not a juried exhibition. All completed doors that are turned in on time become part of the exhibition. 4. DMJStudio staff and volunteers collect, curate and install the doors around the city, hold workshops and lead installation of artwork throughout the rest of the year. 5. Organizations, neighborhoods, schools and places of worship can sign up to be part of the tour on-line at www.dmjstudio.com/doors
Photos from Exhibition These are photos of the 2015 Detroit: Door of Opportunity exhibition tour. During this first year, the exhibition was on display at several locations including One Mile Gallery, Detroit Public Library, North End Studios and Baltimore Gallery.
touring the doors in detroit It would have been easier to have an exhibit of large doors displayed in one place and the audience come to the exhibit location. But, the point of Door of Opportunity is more than displaying art but to create an experience that connects people with each other, their neighborhood and the city of Detroit. Touring this There was no budget to make this happen just a deep desire. With that desire, one Uhaul truck, two movers and an amazing team of artists and curators completed six tour stops in four months.
Hundreds of MetroDetroiters viewed these doors and have been moved by the creative spirit of fellow Detroit residents. The 2016 tour tentatively includes 6+ stops in addition to exhibitions and workshops specifically for schools.
Art should be accessible to all people . The way to do that is to bring art into the spaces where people live and connect; our neighborhoods, work spaces, places of worship, parks and schools.
DMJStudio goal is to install at least 100 doors throughout Metro-Detroit, symbolizing that all of Detroit has opportunity.
Opportunity in our neighborhoods We want art in Detroit’s neighborhoods to be the norm. It is documented that public art has a positive outcome of beautifying spaces, making unused spaces safe as well as creating space for neighbors and community members to connect. Public and placemaking art removes the cultural gap between community and traditional art scenes like museums and galleries and brings art into everyday spaces such as parks, abandoned lots, schools, places of worship and neighborhoods.
DMJStudio is dedicated to bringing art to neighborhoods by installing at least 100 doors throughout Detroit, symbolizing that all of Detroit has opportunity while at the same time visually connecting neighborhoods with art. Each door will have a QR code for viewers to learn about the door and the artists. It will also tell the viewer the location of the next closet door and what neighborhood that door resides. With the help of sponsorships, artists and community, we can accomplish this mission.
Annually, DMJStudio artists’ will connect with artists from other cities, learn about the host city and work with the host artist to develop a door that will be installed in a neighborhood.
Multi-city tour and Connections Artists painting on doors as an art form is not an exclusive thing to Detroit, but is happening in different cities around America. DMJStudio wants to connect Door of Opportunity with these other art communities through a annual Urban Art Door Tour. Annually, DMJStudio will connect with artists from other cities, learn about the host city and work with the host artist to develop a door that will be installed in a neighborhood. The tour will be filmed, photographed and shared online and via social media for all to experience and enjoy. Below are the tentative locations for 2017 tour. 2017 Cities: • Houston, TX • Chicago, IL • Hamilton, ON (Canada) • Brooklyn, NY • New Orleans, LA • Fort Wayne, IN
doors and detroit’s youth Just as art should be a normal part of neighborhoods it should also be a major component in our schools. We know in the past two decades, the arts have been taken out of the curriculum of schools. With Detroit Door of Opportunity project we will provide an art component in schools that includes workshops where students can develop their own door as well as youth exhibitions. DMJStudio is scheduled to display a door at specified Detroit Public Schools, starting September 2016. These doors will be a standing reminder to students that education is an important “Door of Opportunity.”
Our point to this project is more than displaying art but to create an experience that connects people with each other, their neighborhood and the city of Detroit.
Ways to support door of opportunity INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS:
For individuals who want to donate to the project, an on-line form is be available at www.dmjstudio.com/doors All individual donations will go toward purchasing art supplies, additional doors and for recruiting artists and volunteers to participate in the project.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
If your company or organization is interested in becoming a sponsor, here are several levels to support this project: Door Sponsor: $1000 - 1500
Plaque placed on 1 door installed in a Detroit neighborhood as part of the Neighborhood initiative
Community Sponsor: $8 - 10,000 (5 Leadership Sponsorships available) • • •
Recognized on all digital and print collateral and social media platforms as a Community Sponsor Named as Community Sponsor for all gallery exhibitions in Metro-Detroit VIP sponsorship opening reception - first look at current year collection of doors
Leadership Sponsor: $15 - 20,000 (3 Leadership Sponsorships available) • • • • •
Recognized on digital and print collateral press releases and social media platforms as a Leader Sponsor Named as Leadership Sponsor for all gallery exhibitions in Metro-Detroit VIP sponsorship opening reception - first look at current year collection of doors Recognized as Leadership Sponsor for Multi-City Tour Plaque placed on 5 doors installed in Detroit neighborhoods as part of the Neighborhood initiative.
IN-KIND DONATIONS
In-kind donations of art supplies, doors or other services are greatly appreciated. Please contact donna@dmjstudio.com to discuss in-kind donation process.
The past years have been achieved with hard work, love, dedication and creative thinking. With additional resources more creativity and connectivity can attained.