I agree about the unfinished work of Michelangelo. It reveals both the truth and the limitations of his quotes: “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
And: “No great work of art is ever finished.”
Helplessly, my pop mind skipped over to an old memory from an early Saturday Night Live Weekend Update: “In a tragic note from Paris., vandals broke into the Louvre Museum last night, and put the arms back on the Venus to Milo.”
Such an emotionally moving post. All too often we forget the beauty in brokenness, vulnerability and the “flaw”. Especially overachievers and perfectionists like myself. Perfection is nothing more than protection, while the true strength and beauty, as you say, is in the vulnerability, in the cracks. Thank you for sharing 🙏
Love this — Cohen is a favorite of mine too. Tom Waits said, ‘There’s no such thing as a perfect song, only a perfect mistake.’ Travel proves the same — it’s the cracks and detours where the light (and the stories) get in.
The works presented are stunning, but only as much as the power of your descriptions and empathy you breathe into the works themselves. Thank you. Your contributions exalt the passions of the artists.
In the exquisite art of the Kintsugi, those bold gold lines mimic the capillaries that circulate blood and oxygen around our bodies, heart, and head, enriching us and continuing life.
Did you mean unfrozen by spring? Or thawed by spring?
I love this: "Some seeds have to be frozen to crack." I never thought of this. I regularly walk through a forest near my home in Michigan and this time if year I enjoy seeing the acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts and beech nuts on the forest trail. Now I will think of them frozen in the winter months, waiting for spring.
Another lovely essay, James. Michelangelo's half-completed prisoners are some of the most breathtaking and emotional works of art I've ever seen. When I saw David in Florence, no one told me that the hallway leading up to his most famous sculpture would be lined with these pieces and yet it were those visceral, painful, beautiful forms that commanded my attention far more than David.
Ah, what moved me here the most was the reminder that imperfection isn’t a flaw to be excused — it’s the evidence of being human. Cracks aren’t shameful; they’re proof of life lived. And when we stop hiding them, we create connection instead of performance. Thank you for naming that beauty lives in what the system tries to erase.
I love this post, thank you! Such beautiful examples - though I found the photo at the top both inspirational & yet triggering. Guess that's my stuff to work on, right there! 😅😉
I agree about the unfinished work of Michelangelo. It reveals both the truth and the limitations of his quotes: “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
And: “No great work of art is ever finished.”
Helplessly, my pop mind skipped over to an old memory from an early Saturday Night Live Weekend Update: “In a tragic note from Paris., vandals broke into the Louvre Museum last night, and put the arms back on the Venus to Milo.”
I love this! It sounds like Norm, was it him?
November 8, 1975 – Candice Bergen / Esther Phillips (S1 E4)
Wonderful article James… Enjoyed the sculptures. Some truly timeless.
Thank you so much CE!
Such an emotionally moving post. All too often we forget the beauty in brokenness, vulnerability and the “flaw”. Especially overachievers and perfectionists like myself. Perfection is nothing more than protection, while the true strength and beauty, as you say, is in the vulnerability, in the cracks. Thank you for sharing 🙏
Love this — Cohen is a favorite of mine too. Tom Waits said, ‘There’s no such thing as a perfect song, only a perfect mistake.’ Travel proves the same — it’s the cracks and detours where the light (and the stories) get in.
Beautifully said. I love Tom Waits.
The works presented are stunning, but only as much as the power of your descriptions and empathy you breathe into the works themselves. Thank you. Your contributions exalt the passions of the artists.
Thank you so much, Kevin.
In the exquisite art of the Kintsugi, those bold gold lines mimic the capillaries that circulate blood and oxygen around our bodies, heart, and head, enriching us and continuing life.
Some seeds have to be frozen before they crack.
Frozen through winter. Water frozen, expanding the seed casing, until the shell cracks.
Unthawed by spring.
Invigorated by the change, the seed germinates and sprouts roots, which break through the cracks of the seed and bring life to the soil.
Thanks for this, Leonardo.
Did you mean unfrozen by spring? Or thawed by spring?
I love this: "Some seeds have to be frozen to crack." I never thought of this. I regularly walk through a forest near my home in Michigan and this time if year I enjoy seeing the acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts and beech nuts on the forest trail. Now I will think of them frozen in the winter months, waiting for spring.
Yes thawed by spring. Unfrozen is what I was thinking. Appreciate your clarity
This is a beautiful and much needed piece. Thank you for this - looking forward to perusing all of your posts.
Thank you Elizabeth, it means the world to me.
Another lovely essay, James. Michelangelo's half-completed prisoners are some of the most breathtaking and emotional works of art I've ever seen. When I saw David in Florence, no one told me that the hallway leading up to his most famous sculpture would be lined with these pieces and yet it were those visceral, painful, beautiful forms that commanded my attention far more than David.
This is amazing! Thanks for sharing 💖
I agree with Henry Moore, re Michelangelo’s Rondanini Pieta.
And with you of course, for featuring it. I’d forgotten it.
Glad it brought it back to mind!
It’s important to remind the modern west of classical culture, to attenuate its otherwise inevitable collapse into dross.
Ah, what moved me here the most was the reminder that imperfection isn’t a flaw to be excused — it’s the evidence of being human. Cracks aren’t shameful; they’re proof of life lived. And when we stop hiding them, we create connection instead of performance. Thank you for naming that beauty lives in what the system tries to erase.
Beautiful article. The way the “broken” pieces are made more beautiful, even showcasing their flaws is extraordinary and moving.
I love this post, thank you! Such beautiful examples - though I found the photo at the top both inspirational & yet triggering. Guess that's my stuff to work on, right there! 😅😉
What a lovely break.
Thank you!
I love this, even broken art has the power to heal.