Open The Door
Mary Macdonald and Patricia Mader
June 25 - August 4, 2007

Open the door, Installation View, 2007

Is it possible to reengage with our childhood without giving in to the myths and idealisations created by adulthood? How much of our characteristic behaviour and attitude can be said to begin when we are children?

Our intent with this piece is to address the disconnection between the “child” self and the “adult” self. We are coming at the project from the perspective of “adults”, one of us having recently left childhood, the other with children of her own. Though it is impossible to regain the innocence of our first exploration of the world, it is possible to maintain a perspective of wonder and curiosity. We invite the viewer to investigate the gap between the notion of adulthood and childhood and consider one’s self not as two disparate elements, but as the integration of, and transition between many. Our intent is not only to create a memory space, because it is only through our memories that we can recall a child’s perspective, but also to recognize that we need not abandon the freedom and wonder of youth in order to get along as adults.

Viewers are encouraged to open the door, and enter the house-space. Included in the project room is a book in which viewers can share their response to the piece.