I have been musing on the lure of tar snakes — those black streaks of tar in the pavement used to seal cracks.
Your invitation to an imagery world of tar snakes and power of renewal
In them, I see a world of mythic figures, human forms, and animal shapes hidden in plain view. To me they have come to symbolize healing, preservation and reimagination.
Creatively, they remind me of Kintsugi — the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. Kintsugi treats cracks not as flaws to hide but as part of the object’s history. Rather than erasing damage, it highlights it, making the piece more beautiful and valuable because of its breaks.
Much in the same way, asphalt crews mend cracks with black tar, leaving visible lines instead of covering them completely. By doing say, they prevent cracks from becoming bigger problems, minimize disruption and extend a road’s lifespan.
They may start as a cost saving measure, but like Kintsugi, they are source of great.beauty.
Tar snakes are intended to works of art, but in act of appreciating their form and function, I have reframed them as found art and given them new meaning and purpose.
By adding vibrant color and layers of texture, tar snakes take on a life of their own. They represent the art of noticing and the power of renewal.
