Wordless Wednesday: The Cottage Studio Door

cottage-studio

I pass this piece of art almost every day on my way to work and I am always noticing new things on it.

About Cottage Studio

cottage studio front of the doorCottage Studio is an amazing resource in Hamilton.  It is a little cottage downtown that offers a unique mental health art program.  It is supported by Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia and the Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia Family Association. The aim of the Cottage Studio is to promote mental health and artistic potential. Members are offered complimentary space and art supplies as well as lessons in a relaxed social environment.

Cottage Studio opened in 1993 when Beatrice Pearson had the idea of setting up a place for mental health consumers to pursue their art interests.  They started out in the Cottage belonging to the church where it still stands but some time ago the growing number of participants led the cottage to move into the basement of the church. After Mrs. Pearson’s death the studio was continued with the aid of The Hamilton Program For Schizophrenia. Later, the Trillium Foundation supplied a grant so the cottage could be renovated and turned into a gallery and a pleasant work environment for the artists to call their own.  This allowed Cottage Studio to extend its hours to daily openings and the church use of its basement.

About The Cottage Studio Door

the cottage studio door backIt is basically an advertisement for the Studio – such a beautiful and thought provoking one at that.  “The Door” – it may have a real name, but everyone I know calls it The Door – is so attention grabbing compared to its surroundings, some of the older buildings are beautiful but lack the vibrancy that the art has and it is so bright in comparison.

It was painted by multiple members of the Cottage Studio (note the various signatures on the door).  You can see the mental health aspect of the art in the use of Munch’s The Scream but the beautiful scenery in the panels and the back show the many facets of their life, through depression and recovery.

Find out more about The Cottage Studio here.

3 Replies to “Wordless Wednesday: The Cottage Studio Door”

  1. Victoria Ess says: Reply

    That’s a really important organization and what beautiful art they must make there.

  2. Elizabeth D. says: Reply

    That’s really interesting. I have seen those doors for years but never really knew what they were from. I was on the church grounds in the fall taking pictures of all the grave stones up against the walls of the church. Fascinating site and it’s so easy to just walk past without noticing anything there. Thanks for the backgrounder on the doors and the group working out of that church. 😀

    1. Tea & Nail Polish says: Reply

      I looked it up a while back because I was so interested in it, there is so little about it online though so I had to ask around some

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