J. Cheryl Bookout
Gallery Pages-Guardians-installation
Doors, in times past, were made mostly of stone,
but also of wood. The spirit of the stone or wood was thought to be retained
in the door, and it too was called upon to act as guardian of the room.
Early on there were more doors to tombs than to homes, and the very image of
door meant something of spiritual value was within, or there was something
within which must be kept contained. 1
Taking into consideration the past life of each door, the structure in which
it was hung, the age and function of guarding or containing; decisions were
made as to what personal history should be brought to the door. Thus,
bringing personal history to the door’s inherent history is the ultimate
goal of this installation. There is a chronological order to these doors. A
birth of circumstance and uncertain future of old age and the span of time
that lay between. It is up to the viewer to decide which side of the door
they prefer to be on.
1. Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and
Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype
Clarissa Pinkola Este`s, PH. D.
