Pamela Cinnamon wants to show you the door. Fifteen of them, to be precise.

The Tete Jaune artist, who has been painting since 1986, is bringing her first solo exhibit to Jasper. The show, entitled Door Stories: Exploration of Doorways, includes several rural scenes of doors, evoking  emotions that come along with what can be a very powerful metaphor.

The show was inspired by a typical pastoral scene she encountered one day in her community.

“There was this door that beckoned me. It was an old door overgrown with wild roses. I envisioned a narrative with a letter left on the door.”

She decided to photograph the door, which led to an acrylic painting. The rest followed.

Each of the 15 pieces in Cinnamon’s show includes a small story, drawing the viewer into a new possibility. Cinnamon said she doesn’t want to lead the viewer, but merely open a possibility.

“Every door tells a different story,” Cinnamon said.

Loss, hope, nostalgia and curiosity are a few of the themes Cinnamon explores through her work. She likes to keep a narrative in her mind while she paints, and is happy to hear the show evokes strong emotions in others. Viewers are often reminded of scenes from their youth.

“These aren’t grand doors found in Italy. They are country doors,” she said.

While she received inspiration all around her, the doors evoke memories and emotions for urban and rural viewers.

“I like to give something for the viewer to hang onto. When I look at a painting, I want a starting point,” Cinnamon said.

This is the third run of the show for Cinnamon, who has also taken the pieces to Invermere and McBride. She’s now looking for a new series to inspire her.

The show runs at the Jasper Artists Guild until Feb. 21.