THE STORY BEHIND THE COVER
When we make mistakes, show our imperfections, or wind up feeling broken in some way, we have to patch ourselves back together. The Japanese art of kintsugi is the art of creating “precious scars” or “golden repair” by filling cracks in pottery with precious metals such as liquid gold or silver.
Kintsugi is said to have begun hundreds of years ago when a Japanese military commander broke his favorite tea bowl and sent it to be repaired. When it returned, it had been patched together unattractively with metal staples. Seeing the well-loved but sloppily-mended bowl inspired Japanese craftsmen to develop kintsugi as a better, more beautiful way to fix something broken.
The breaks in kintsugi pottery are considered to be part of the object’s history, and are displayed with pride. An imperfection isn’t the end. It’s a chance for a “golden repair”!
Cover design by Vivien R. Zhu
Tab, the cover is... perfect. xo
ReplyDeleteTabatha, what a wonderful cover by Vivian Zhu and story, too. The color is luminous and that makes the vase pop. Fabulous! I hope the story will be part of the book.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous cover! And the story behind it is exactly what middle schoolers need to hear.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cover!! So thrilled! And love this”cover story”!
ReplyDeletelove this, Tabatha!
ReplyDeleteI love it! How exciting! The theme is perfect for my school and will be very meaningful to lots of students.
ReplyDeleteWonderful cover! And I love the view of mistakes as precious scars and opportunities for golden repairs.
ReplyDeleteI looooooove it! The story makes it that much richer!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cover, and I love the story!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely... well, I was going to say absolutely "perfect" but that doesn't seem quite right!! :) The point is, I love it!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful to see and to read the back story. Perfect (in the land of mistakes!) Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThe cover is beautiful as is the sentiment behind it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful backstory, Tabatha! Beautiful cover! Looking forward to reading the poems by all our friends and spreading the good word of your good work!
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteLove it! The idea of imperfections as an opportunity for "golden repair" is so optimistic and the cover is stunning!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great!
ReplyDeleteIt's perfectly "Imperfect," love the cover and the story behind it. Thanks for all you've put into it. I'm excited and looking forward to reading it!
ReplyDeleteThat cover story is a poem waiting to be found, Tabatha.
ReplyDeleteKintsugi
Precious scars
filling cracks
with liquid gold,
mended
more beautiful;
broken history
displayed with pride;
imperfection golden.
Late to the party as usual, but I wanted to add my three cheers! Vibrant cover, and the kintsugi connection to this collection is PERFECT.
ReplyDelete