Oct 28 2021 33 mins
The Perfect Property with Juli St. George
Guest: Karen Anderson Singer, Tiny Doors ATL
Summary:
In this episode of The Perfect Property, Juli draws the curtain back on Tiny Doors ATL – a popular art installation that finds big ideas in very small places. Karen Anderson Singer’s colorful, unique Tiny Doors have popped up all over the city in recent years, to the delight of everyone who comes upon them. This podcast covers not only where the artist found her inspiration but how her vision has inspired a sense of community, whether situated outside a major corporation, adjacent to a community organization or tucked into the trunk of a tree.
Shaped by a life-long love of both miniatures and street art, Karen (an Atlanta transplant originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan) married the two passions in a whimsical format that has drawn national and international attention. Juli explores with her guest the various ways in which Tiny Doors spur imagination, prompting all kinds of curiosity and questioning, always in the context of respect for whatever the locale. These little gems, sprinkled throughout the city, have prompted a movement. Learn how you can tour Karen’s colorful installations and perhaps join the growing Tiny Door community by leaving an interactive treasure of your own!
What You’ll Learn:
· Karen explains the artistic impulse and vision behind her doors – the purpose they serve and the imaginative thinking she hopes to spark.
· Tiny Doors require a certain amount of maintenance, but they are also an exercise in letting go for the artist – who understands that they need to evolve organically.
· The “Tiny Key” bestowed upon Karen for her represents a city that embraces imagination and believes that it’s possible to create something big out of something tiny.
· Lesson plans, treasure hunts, an augmented reality app – (links below).
· The secret behind Door #5. How it nearly broke Karen’s heart and how a new, epic tree-based door in Grant Park proved a healing – fun – journey.
Key Points:
“When I’m creating a door I’m thinking about the community in front of it ... I’m trying to come up with the best blank canvas for your imagination.” (5:01)
“(Tiny Doors) really is about the love that I have and that the people of Atlanta have for Atlanta. They really are about embracing the community. It’s not necessarily about what you’d find behind the doors. It’s about who you meet in front of the doors.” (11:39)
“The real story of these Tiny Doors is going to be how they move and grow. I don’t see there being 100 but maybe 100 versions of the first few …” (30:19)
Contacts & Further Resources:
· More information about the Tiny Doors ATL can be found here.
· Download a free Tiny Doors ATL lesson plan for kids here.
· Click here to take a Tiny Doors map and augmented reality tour.
· Support Tiny Doors by shopping their online store.
· Reach out via email: [email protected]
· Click here to make a donation and keep Karen’s Tiny Doors coming!
https://linktr.ee/julistgeorge