‘It was pretty intense’
Visual artist transforms doors at Port Williams Elementary School
ACanning-based visual artist has transformed 12 doors at Port Williams Elementary School into windows to the imagination.
Doretta Groenendyk went to work on the hand-painted illustrations designed with the collective interests of students in each classroom in mind in January.
“Sometimes I went in during blizzards and I would hear the storm around me, and I would start the door and I would not leave until I finished,” she said.
She’d shrug off the occasional unidentified noise that echoed in empty halls after dark, and graciously welcome surprise deliveries of baked goods dropped off for her enjoyment.
The canvas for this particular project was bigger than Groenendyk is used to, but she made it work.
“Sometimes I was actually laying on the floor painting… and I thought if police officers looked in they would just see these legs sticking out,” she said with a laugh.
She’d stay at the school until 2:30 a.m., imagining how the students would react the following day.
“It was pretty intense,” she said.
“I really wanted to paint and then the next day the kids walk in and see a completely finished door. I just loved the idea of that surprise.”
The design for each door was drafted based on worksheets Groenendyk had the students fill out. She asked them to draw her a picture of something they learned this year and the person they learned it from.
“We can learn from everyone and everything,” she said.
“…For each classroom I kind of found commonalities and then I based the idea for the door on that.”
The common theme that links the images on every illustrated door is inspiring relationships. The goal is to tell an overarching story shining a light on the importance of acceptance, learning and pride by celebrating culture, curiosity, curriculum and creativity.
“I think kids who are working in the classroom and they glance up and see that illustration, they’re kind of transported to another possibility.”
Groenendyk was thrilled to have an opportunity to use her talents to showcase the importance of inclusivity, multiculturalism and diversity.
“I’m an avid traveller. I love to see everyone included and feeling like they belong,” she said.
She credits Port Williams Elementary School principal Lana Burns with remaining dedicated to seeing the project through to completion even when complications arose.
“We were very fortunate that Doretta was in agreement to be an instrumental part of our Inspiring Relationships project and work with our students using their ideas to reflect the inclusive culture of Port Williams Elementary School (PWES),” said Burns.
“PWES is a rural community-based school, where students participate in learning experiences and opportunities to grow their sense of identity and belonging in a supportive student-centered environment.”
Burns is pleased with the final product that allows students to see themselves reflected in the artwork at their school.
"Students were amazed when they entered school in the morning and saw their ideas, values and beliefs illustrated on their classroom door.”
Next up, Groenendyk will move on to painting murals inspired by the growth mindset at New Minas Elementary School. She’s looking forward to it after her experience in Port Williams.
“There’s a lot of pretty special things that happen in that building and that’s illustrated by the doors,” she said.