Thursday doors…dream doors

I’m taking a break from my quest for “yellow” today to share one door and two gates that I found while visiting the Celebration of Fine Art show, running until March 16 in Scottsdale, AZ (https://celebrateart.com/). There are over 100 artists’ studios there, housed in an enormous tent, or more likely, several enormous tents. One of these artists is a perennial favorite of mine, Michael Jones. Michael told me he doesn’t have a website anymore but can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=michael%20jones%20designs or search for Michael Jones Designs when you get there. He does much more than just gates and doors.

This first is an actual door, a screen door with a southwest motif. Would I have this on my door? You bet. On either side you can glimpse part of another type of sculpture Michael does, reminding me of what Chihuly might look like in metal.

The next two offerings are custom-made gates, the only kind he makes as each gate has to be made to fit its entrance. This first one is pretty sweet or may-bee a honey of a gate. Yes, I can’t resist a pun every now and then.

This gate featuring a bighorn sheep is one Michael made for himself…about 10 years ago, if I remember correctly. But he’s kept so busy make gates, doors, tables, and other sculptures that he just finally got around to building the wall on his northern Montana property that will showcase the gate. That’s patience and I’m sure he, his wife, and any visitors will greatly enjoy it.

If you visit Michael on Facebook, be sure to comment and also mention you saw his work on my blog. I’ll have a few more gates next week, too.

for Thursday Doors 2.11.21

Thursday doors…gateways

My last real trip was a driving trip to Pasadena to visit our daughter and son-in-law. One morning after stopping for coffee, we took a drive to an upscale neighborhood to take a safe, mask-less walk. The grand houses mostly had grand gates and since the gates were closer to the road than the houses, which were often not only far from the sidewalk but behind trees and other landscaping, they were much easier to capture in iPhone photos. These three certainly didn’t let down their houses.

for Thursday Doors 2.4.21

Thursday doors…Tlaquepaque again

We’re back in Sedona again this week, on the prowl for doors at Tlaquepaque once more. Let’s begin the beguine with some rather impressive gates, doors to the shopping complex.

This chapel is used for weddings at, I’m sure, a hefty price, but oh, the atmosphere!

Thursday doors…garden doors

Three years ago, I visited our daughter in southern California and one day when she had to work, I spent a marvelous day wandering in Descanso Gardens. What a place! The flowers were in full bloom and I even managed to find a few gates and doors. But only this one had a giant rabbit on the other side! Farmer McGregor, beware!

A somewhat ordinary door, but not every ordinary door is guarded by lions!

Fancier gates with a set of double doors behind them.

There’s a door somewhere in here, even if you have to meditate to find it and be a midget to get inside.

for Thursday Doors 10.22.20

Thursday doors…gateways

Besides beautiful old buildings and doors, Pasadena has classic gates. Let’s take a quick look.

“There are so many doors to open. I am impatient to begin.” –Charlie Gordan”― Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon

“Either you enter the interesting gates and experience interesting things or you stand behind the gates and sit cowardly!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

Thursday doors…a soupçon of French doors

I’m once again trolling the archives of last year’s visit to France for my Thursday Doors entry this week. I’m sad to say there will be no visit this year but I can’t imagine having to wear a mask for all the time it would take to get from the Phoenix airport to the Basel airport–with possibly two stops and all that time in the air! However, with the ease of virtual travel, we can zip over for a few quick stops.

First stop is a favorite spot–Luxeuil-les-Bains. Remember that les bains means the baths and this is one of the places in the area where you can get into hot water and have it be a good thing.

I do love shutters and a balcony filled with flowers. Since many doors open almost right into the street or sidewalk, it would be much nicer to sit up above the crowd.

Thursday doors…French gates

Shelter-in place, self-isolation, and quarantine are all for the body, but mind is free to roam the world, so tighten your seatbelts and put your tray tables in their upright and locked positions. We’re on our way to the Franche-Comté. See that? I made a little rhyme.

As all Thursday Doors peeps know, gates count as doors and that’s the way I’m going today. Enjoy.

Thursday doors…the spice of life

If variety is the spice of life, it was a spicy day in Philadelphia, even though I had little time for shooting doors on this trip. Eating spicy food has been linked with living longer. Not sure these doors/gates will help with that, but you may enjoy your time more.

This is one of the most unusual gates I’ve seen.

Notice the two dogs at the bottom on either side?

Thursday Doors…Baja gates and doors

Gates are good and doors are good, but the combination is even better.  These are from Baja California.

Boundaries are good, but without a gate, all that you have are fences.
― Anthony T. Hincks

Be an opener of doors.
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are so many doors to open. I am impatient to begin.
― Daniel Keyes,
“Flowers for Algernon”

 

If you’d like to see more doors,  grab your passport and pop up to Montreal where Norm is our host.  Feel free to join us if you’d like.  We’d a-door having you stop by.  🙂

 

 

Thursday Doors..Plombières les Bains gateways

Door:  a. A movable structure used to close off an entrance, typically consisting of a panel that swings on hinges or that slides or rotates.

Gate: 1. A structure that can be swung, drawn, or lowered to block an entrance or a passageway.

Hmmm, these two definitions sound rather similar to me so with the authority of dictionaries behind me, I offer you these three gate-doors from Plombières les Bains.  Just think of a gate as an outside door with open windows.   These are not door-ky, but rather they a-door-n their space.  I heartily en-doors them.  🙂  Happy Thursday!