“Often, we try to repair broken things in such a way as to conceal the repair and make it “good as new.” But the tea masters understood that by repairing the broken bowl with the distinct beauty of radiant gold, they could create an alternative to “good as new” and instead employ a “better than new” aesthetic. They understood that a conspicuous, artful repair actually adds value. Because after mending, the bowl’s unique fault lines were transformed into little rivers of gold that post repair were even more special because the bowl could then resemble nothing but itself.” – Teresita Fernandez
Panama City-PANAMA – Like a stepchild that it is not, an impromptu project at Barb’s condo in Panama has been waiting in the queue of stories to share. After receiving another two-year nonresident visa to work in the arts, I was free to leave Ecuador without a lot of red tape to return. I first visited Costa Rica for a week, took care of personal business, visited with friends, and then on the return trip to Ecuador, bailed out in Panama to spend a week with Barbara.
Barbara is my amazing and tireless friend who is selfless when it comes to helping others. Here are images from some of her past visits, starting with when she helped create the Magic Carpet at Casa Loca.
Barb preps border with fresh layer of Agua Stop.
Barbara brushes white over white!
Inventory from PlayaMart
This is surely the most lovingly-painted bodega door in the country!
Postscript: Last year’s earthquake altered that Casa Loca chapter. But let’s move on….
Recycled cans! Why is Barb chuckling as she sits on the bench?
When the ocean advanced, Barb witnessed the changes.
Barb and I enjoyed a 30-minute detour* through the “Women’s Art Exhibit” in Museo Bahia de Caraquez. – *before the earthquake…
Thanks to Efrain’s visit to the property, Barb was officially infected with the birding bug!
Barbara has helped me with SO MANY projects, and even if it were just a week, it was time to spend time with her. “I’ll be bringing my paint brushes,” I stated, “so be thinking of a project.”
She had no project, but I spotted a subtle cosmetic crack on a wall. That wall happened to be very near a column that I’d painted years ago.
“Would you like for me to make that crack disappear?”
After a search-and-find mission for acrylic paints, I mixed basic colors to match the ones on the column. Sorry I don’t have photos of the first project, and I forgot to photograph the subtle crack before the paints were applied.
Look carefully below, and you’ll see one subtle crack!
Great reference material thrived right outside the condo… I took a few photos and also picked a few leaves. As I painted, the background music was televised news about Hurricane Irma and her trail of destruction. I also painted while Barb hosted a bible-study group from her church! Memories are often recorded in those subtle applications of paint.
The bamboo ties in with the column, which was painted when Barb first moved into her condo.
I stayed busy and focused – and at times reminded myself, ‘Where’s the crack?” Ha!
The image stretches as high as my arm would reach. There was too much ‘easy space’ to use without risking an accident from standing on a chair or stool! Next trip/visit will be ladder time!
I worked until time to leave for the airport, so the new garden area is now hibernating until my next visit.
I look forward to returning and putting a little acrylic fertilizer on the garden! Who knows what’s patiently incubating and waiting for the next period of growth?!!
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
Leaves have always fascinated me. Beautiful wall 🙂
You brighten the world/walls wherever you go, my dear friend!
Authors write, farmers farm; cooks cook, and artists paint! Thanks for the smile!
Wow, I genuinely admire you guys for your artistic skills. Simply stunning!
Lovely wall! So nice to have a good visit with long-time friends, isn’t it?
I love! love! love! it!!! You are superb!!!
Thank you; it was a great visit, combing art while watching news about the hurricanes and visiting with friends…
Such an enriching process!
I love it. Almost worth having a crack to have it fixed in such a beautiful way. 🙂
janet
Maybe repaired cracks are like wrinkles and little scars in people – they show wear and tear and a special beauty 🙂
PS. Love your art as usual!
Brilliant! (And I noticed a familiar painting at the “Women’s Art Exhibit.” No???)
Good eye, Hugh! What was funny was that we dropped by the museum to say hi, and they said, ‘lisa! there’s a new exhibit upstairs…’ so it was really strange to walk in and see my painting prominently displayed… the same happened recently in another museum.. ‘lisa!’ they said, and then pointed toward the staircase, and there was my painting on the wall, while a larger-than-life sculpture of a woman was on the other side of the staircase. the sculptor is my friend, born the same year, so it was a double ‘smile’ and honor.
Thanks, Hugh!
Thanks for bringing back so many fond memories of our visits together Lisa! You always have just the “right touch” in whatever you do….like your painting, your story telling and of course you being just YOU!! Am looking forward to “OUR” next adventure….Hugs, BB aka Hummingbird.
Lisa, I love kinzugi, unfortunately have never been able to own an example of it. But the idea of incorporating the defects to make a new piece is so close to my heart. When I make artworks I love the idea of bringing a piece of something discarded into the work. Your murals are exceptional. It must have been difficult to tear yourself from casa Loca. When I see the photographs of your jungly environment, I have little pangs of envy. Queensland is beautiful in its own way, but the place is so very dry and its sad to see the plants dying and the trees so stressed. Keep well, and all the best with your moves. Tony
A wise friend once said, ‘if you’re looking behind, you can’t see where you’re going,’ and the circumstances with Casa Loca were strong signals that it was time to move on. I selected the house – which was a gift – one of three options – knowing there was a good chance that one day it might jump in the river. Until that happened, it was a wonderful place to be as creative as the whims allowed, and it was also wonderful to watch the birds/wildlife and stunning sunsets. The earthquake put that chapter to a close, but because of that, I am now in a totally-different slice of environment. As I get older, it’s time for a change and to live where neighbors are close at hand… The world’s changing, and a lone woman living at the river mouth is probably not a good idea!
Thank you as always for your support and feedback!
Lisa, you never cease to amaze and inspire me! From a subtle crack in a wall to a gorgeous mural. Hey, if you are ever in our neck of the jungle I have lots of termite trails on my walls. The termites are dead, but the trails will stay for eternity. The only thing we can do is to paint over them. I need you! Haha!
i know exactly what you’re talking about re: those termite trails! and yes, they would make a great start to a mural, blending in vines or something to work with the ‘scars’ instead of against them!
Lisa, I discovered a tear in my 15 ft. Hand painted mural above my kitchen this morning. I am sick about it. Ron tried to repair it, but the split is too large. He put canvas behind it and I hung a kite dragonfly on it for the time being. I am hoping I can match the colors and paint in the crack.
you should be able to blend that back into submission!!!! the kite is a great idea until you are inspired to jump in with new paint… you’ll b able to match the colors or else blend the new colors into the old ones and make it work…..
It’s interesting how age and circumstance can conspire to bring change, isn’t it? When I ponder where I’ll be as the years pass, there are considerations I never would have thought about even ten years ago. It’s good that you’re finding some solutions that will be pleasurable as well as practical.
“Acrylic fertilizer” made me laugh. Where would we be without our sense of humor?
you’re sounding a bit like paulo coehlo, which i state with total respect! and yes, the acrylic fertilizer will give that wall are an amazing kick the next trip there… the first part was visualizing and finding my way to best blend the new area with the column.. next will be with training wheels off!
Sorry I’m so late in commenting – about to go to NYC (next week), and very preoccupied…I’m familiar with that Japanese tradition, and I respect it. Your work is just so beautiful here, I love the lightness of it, the openness – like you!
you will be very busy when you return as well; i hope that you’ve had a wonderful trip!
Got back the 18th…saw so much art, very inspiring, even if I didn’t love it all, by any means. Also saw a small hoard of Monarchs feeding on late asters at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where we strolled with an old art school friend. It was completely enchanting. I trust all is well with you! 🙂
i read that about the monarchs – once again offline, and thought that was a wonderful sighting… hoorah for the monarchs, and for the botanical gardens of the world!
Your work on your friend Barbara’s cracks shows the wisdom of the quote by Teresita Fernandez. Your added quality makes for a beautiful wall. I will have to revise my own thinking about repairs.