Sunday, October 16, 2011

Artistical Disaster

The pear tart called for some simple syrup. I forgot about it being on the burner until the smoke filled the house. It was close to bursting into flame when I grabbed the pan and ran outside to lay it on the rock patio. It looked like a puffy chef's hat, a smoking black one. It was fail/fail because it seemed like my favorite pan might have been wrecked. Brita came outside to see the damage. Her curiosity changed my perspective and the experience.

Hunkered down beside the mess, she poked and prodded. With a knife, she slit the top to explore what was inside. I bent over to watch tiny little beacon flames flicker out and turn into prisms. Burnt sugar looks like a lava flow, or black spun glass, but it is as ethereal and fragile as soap suds.

It made me think of the beauty that artists like Andy Goldsworthy notice and capture. Their curiosity is a gift ~ framed, displayed, or bound in a book for us to exclaim over.

Most days, I wake up and beg to see ~ really see. Today I forgot, but my daughter saw for me. Noticers refine worship with simple curiosity. Thanks my love.

This is the progression. Burnt Sugar Study. Beauty for ashes.
















10 comments:

Maureen said...

That second one is your own van Gogh, a kind of at-the-creation black starry night.

Very cool images (I also like the second-to-last), even if no syrup.

Pam's Palate and Potpourri said...

Only you could find beauty in burnt sugar!!! AND.....you wrote on your blog!!!! I'm a happy friend!

katdish said...

Wow. Talk about beauty from ashes.

Monica Sharman said...

That is really amazing.

Valerie Kamikubo said...

What amazing photographs, Kathleen! As an aside, I'm comforted to hear that I am not the only one who forgets what's on the stove. Not too long ago I burnt some silk fabric that I was steaming while doing some eco printing. I found that I actually liked the burn marks though, but not enough to try and replicate the whole thing over again. I hope that you were able to save your pan.

Anonymous said...

Fantastic. I love the accidental artistry part of this. And the fact that someone else had to point it out. We all struggle to see sometimes, and the beauty is right there in front of us. This is great, Kathleen.

L.L. Barkat said...

Really cool. The artistry is there, yes? We just need to take the time to see it (so glad you did, and Iove the one that looks like ashen tectonic plates :)

Anonymous said...

simple curiosity
she said
you are not alone

Joyce Wycoff said...

What delicate and amazing beauty! It is indeed everywhere, isn't it? And, speaking of beauty, I received such a lovely little bit of beauty in my mailbox yesterday. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness.

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed the pictures, Brita has the gift also. I am so thankful for camera's which allows us to share beautiful things.