Watch for

'Fairy Doors'

at 1st Fridays

PUTNAM — The May 6 First Fridays event is less than a month away, and  a group of artists have come together to create a series of stealthy Street Art projects for the season of events. To give Putnam residents and visitors a preview of some of the pieces the group has planned for the festival, the Street Art committee has created a series of tiny “Fairy Doors” which 

give a sneak peak of the cities First Fridays will celebrate over the six months, including: New York City, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, Nashville, and New Orleans. Over the upcoming weeks, those visiting Putnam’s downtown area are encouraged to look for Putnam’s “Fairy Doors.”

Each of the 12 doors has a story, creatively linking the materials, colors, and objects of the miniature entryways with the cities they represent. The doors will be hidden in plain sight and the Street Art Crew has created checklists with images of each door, to assist visitors of all ages who wish to find all 12. Below is a sampling of the stories that accompany the doors, many of which combine poetry to whimsically describe the doors and the cities they embody:

Time of our Lives Door – New York City – “This door looks like it is as old as time. Look - it’s almost midnight. You know what happens at midnight every year? That’s right - the magical, glowing ball drops in Times Square in New York City. A fun, exciting sight that makes us all welcome in a brand new year. How fitting it is that it happens in a city known for welcoming many of our ancestors to this great country. Party on, NYC! Have the time of your life.”

“Chicago Bean There?” Door – Chicago – “My name is Birdella Bean but my friends call me Birdie on account that my head is always in the clouds!  I live at 13 ATT Plaza Millennium Park Chicago  although I’ll be calling downtown Putnam my home for a while.  I’ve brought my front door with me, I kinda love the way it reflects who I am; see what I did there? wink, wink, nudge, nudge.”

Wizard of Oz Door - Seattle – “Not to make a spectacle, But an Emerald door appeared, Maybe from a star it fell, Or from a city near? It really was a miracle what happened was just this, The wind began to switch - the door, to pitch and suddenly the magic started to unhitch. And you could guess just which, What City is remise That lost their Emerald door, behold! To a location such as this.”

Saloon Door - Nashville – “Howdy pardners. Listen carefully and you might here some whoopin’ and hollerin’ coming from behind this little door. That’s because in this special salon you can belly up to the bar for some marshmallow floats, gumdrop fizzles and candy drop dreamsicles. You might have seen this door in your favorite western or on a visit to Nashville, Tennessee. And, now, here it is in Putnam thanks to a magical pile of wood, a little glue and some special clay. So saddle up your unicorn and kick your western imagination into high-ho gear as you swing open these doors!”