The gist
The doors were installed Aug. 21 and 22 and are a new permanent art display around the square, according to a news release.
The tiny doors are about 7 inches tall and feature a wide array of designs that reflect the community and their location. The doors also include realistic elements, such as mailboxes, doorknobs, windows and more. Some doors have functional elements such, as doors that open, while others do not.
Visitors in the downtown area can spot the doors while walking near businesses on the square, as well as at a few locations east of McDonald Street, including the McKinney Flour Mill and the McKinney Cotton Mill. A map of all the tiny doors installation locations is available here.
“We hope that you feel that sense of wonder and exploration as you discover these tiny doors all around downtown,” McKinney Cultural District Director Andrew Jones said.
The backstory
Jones said he has been inspired to bring tiny doors to the square since he saw stores that had created their own.
“In downtown, a long time ago, we had about three stores that had fairy doors,” Jones said. “[Those] doors have disappeared. But since then, I've always had ... the dream of having all these tiny doors.”
Fields, who has previously created art featuring doors and door hanger art, had a similar interest in the existing fairy doors around downtown.
“Andrew was just as fascinated by these existing tiny doors that are here on the square as I was,” she said. “It was just really the perfect meeting of the moment where he had the vision, I have the love for the doors and the connection with the community, and so it just took off from there.”
Diving in deeper
The doors were created by over 25 artists, Fields said.
Lynne Weinberger, one of the contributing artists for the project, created a tiny door for boutique Jasper and Petals along with The Yard, a downtown restaurant, and pottery studio Walls of Clay. Weinberger said she worked with the business owners to include key details that reflected their culture as well as their business.
“I feel like this is probably the most fun, charming thing ever on the square,” she said. “I love our square anyway, but this just takes it to a whole other level.”
Fields coordinated the pairing of the team of contributing artists with business owners interested in getting a tiny door.
“I had an individual consultation with every business to hear what their vision was, because in the end they really were the client, so it needed to represent what felt important to them,” Fields said. “Then based on what they would tell me, I would then think about who on my artists team would be a good fit for what they were looking for, and it was such a treat to put those artists and businesses together.”
The number of artists contributing to the project also lended to the variety of door designs and styles, she said.
Stay tuned
Fields and the collaborating organizations have already received interest from businesses that want to add a tiny door. They plan to coordinate a phase two for the art installation later this year, Fields said.
“There's more tiny door fun to come,” she said.
To learn more about the tiny doors project or see a map of the tiny door locations, visit www.visitmckinney.com/mckinneytinydoors.
Editor's Note: The articles has been updated to include more information.
