Thursday: Lingering look at windows, week 29

Canvas portraits of windows in Casa das Portas

Canvas portraits of windows in Casa das Portas.

I’m focusing on a very particular group of windows this week.  Don’t be fooled by the dilapidated appearance of the wall above.  It’s part of a real and well deserved success story in Tavira, in the Eastern Algarve.  The shop, Casa das Portas (House of Doors), features the work of local artist Jane Gibbin.  Like myself, Jane fell in love with Tavira, spending hours photographing the local doors and windows.

The photos always seem to create a talking point.  As you’ve probably seen from some of my posts, Tavira has a delightfully down at heel look and is a great subject to work with.  Ten years ago, looking for something distinctive, but not too expensive, for the bare walls in our Tavira home, I was much taken with Jane’s doors and windows.  Poster form was the cheapest, so we selected three, had them framed, and today they have pride of place in our living room.

You can barely just see two of the framed posters here

You can barely just see two of the framed posters here

Jane started out with a market stall selling her photographs then, as interest grew, progressed to a shop in the warren of back streets.  As well as the photographs and posters there’s an eclectic mix of objects for the home, and pretty jewellery pieces.  I often stick my nose in and the assistant is unfailingly polite, even though I seldom buy.

In July 2011 success was confirmed when Jane opened a second shop, right beside Ponte Romana; a prime target for tourists.  The ideas continue to flow and at my last visit there were some lovely small canvases with paintings of the doors.  I was very tempted, as was Cathy who was staying with me at the time.  Her luggage was already overflowing, so she dived into a colourful heap of scarves instead.

Looking in
An eclectic mix
Windows and door paintings
Objets d’arts?
Nautical things (and reflections)
And finally.

My photos aren’t the best as I had one or two distractions that night (yes, Cathy!), but I’ve wanted to tell the story of the shops for a while.  For a clearer idea of them you might visit the Casa das Portas Facebook page.

I hope Dawn doesn’t mind a slightly different style of lingering at my windows (and doors) this week.  Please visit her at Lingering Visions to see the other entries, and maybe add one of your own.

55 comments

  3. Pingback: Thursday Lingering Look at Windows: Week 29 | Sonel's Corner

  4. Don’t you just love it when you find a real gem like Janes shop when you are travelling, what a success story for Jane, very well deserved as the windows are beautiful and so full of character, what a great memento of your journey Jo

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    1. I love the way shops and stalls are open in the evenings so if you want a browse and a stroll after you’ve eaten, you can. In the UK you’d have to go to a shopping mall (yuck!) 🙂

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    1. I liked that owl too 🙂 I’m a sucker for little wooden boats so it’s a good thing our Tavira house is short on windowsills or they’d be sailing all about the place. Well, maybe not. We tend to be quite frugal when we’re there so window shopping is often the limit. Just being there is enough. 🙂

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  13. A lovely offering of windows – I love the old dilapidated doors (and windows) of Portugal, and I’d be very tempted by one of those canvases should I have the chance.
    Jude xx

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