When the Floricane team was strategizing early in July at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, we were greeted by a door. A painted door standing curb, waiting for passers-by to pause and reflect – and perhaps read a detailed sign that explained its purpose.
The door, it turns out, is one of 40 painted doors scattered around Richmond. Each features the work of local artists, and each helps tell a story of homelessness – and solutions to the plight of the homeless in our region.
A few days later, Richmond Magazine spotlighted the doors in an article, and described the idea behind the Virginia Supportive Housing/Art On Wheels collaboration:
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.
“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...,” [VSH’s Andrea] 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.