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Accidental Mysteries

The Japanese tradition of kintsugi — the artful repairing of damaged objects — is a practice that continues to fascinate me. In our society today, most things are not repaired if broken. If a toaster quits working, the normal practice is to throw it away and get a replacement. Still, shoes get repaired. Automobiles do — probably more than we’d like — and iPhones can be repaired if the damage is not severe. This week’s post looks at things broken, repaired and/or mended — and the beauty of such.

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

Broken, Repaired & Mended

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By John Foster

John Foster and his wife, Teenuh, have been longtime collectors of self-taught art and vernacular photography. Their collection of anonymous, found snapshots has toured the country for five years and has been featured in Harper’s, Newsweek Online and others.

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