Sharke Kintsugi At the Waldron!

What to do with a broken arm?
Fortunately, Thomas developed an interest in Kintsugi. a quick google search reveals that it is essentially the art of mending ceramics mainly with Laquer and gold dust. More interesting is the aesthetics behind it. The best description of this that I have found so far is here:
The Aesthetics of Mended Japanese Ceramics
this was in a catalogue of a show featuring such works.
So what does it mean to have such a repair?
-it indicates the passage of time
-it ensures a "good future" (maybe it means the piece will have one, since, if you do not repair a piece, what happens to it?
-having a piece repaired is considered one a way of adding value to the piece. it is not cheap, and it means the owner thinks enough of the piece to have the piece enhance with gold repair. the repair is  visual proof of having the honor of the work having "sufficient historical, aesthetic personal [and] social value.

"It seems appropriate that Mharko be repaired given his history" (thanks Thomas), which until now, only T and I really know: check these out:

mharkosharke-start-bad-beginning
and then this:
mharko-high-fived

So yeah, I will be on display at the Waldron decked out in gold here and there.

Mharko High-Fived

So you are wondering, why have you been out of commission for so long? full disclosure: names were omitted  to protect the (not so?) innocent:
Here is the email Thomas got:

"Mharko suffered a casualty during Gallery Walk.  Someone was holding my  daughter, near him.  Apparently she saw his outstretched hand and "gave him five", which severed his arm at the elbow.  I did not witness the event, but was upstairs when it happened, heard the noise, and turned and saw my daughter right there in the arms of the person holding her, who then explained to me what happened.  I am embarrassed and mortified.  My daughter, and therefore I, am responsible for this.  I am not sure if its repairable.  So I would like you to come by and evaluate his loss of limb and we can discuss how to make it right.  Please let me know in advance when you are coming so I can make sure I am here.  I am terribly sorry."

So when Thomas came to pick me up, he finds me in the back room, pushed up against the wall, which broke off a finger. ....Thomas said he would repair me, but had other priorities until just a couple of days ago...

Mharke Sharke start: a bad beginning

"At the end of a summer a couple of years, Mharko was sitting on a rolling pedestal waiting to dry. Product of an independant study, he was waiting to be fired. In order to make room for the new semester, an assistant pushed the pedestal holding Mharko against the wall. The arm, which sticks pretty far out, and of course has a hand on the end of it, ended up losing his hand. OUCH.
 My teacher said, not a problem, lets roll it into the kiln room and you can repair it there. So we carefully rolled the Mharko-on-a-rolling-pedestal towards the kiln room.
However, one of the wheels fell into a floor drain and gave the pedestal such a jolt that the rest of the arm broke off in several pieces.
I was sure i would just have to fire it with no arm or abandon the piece.  My teacher said again, no problem, I've repaired much worse than that.  I put my faith in her experience and guidance, and sure enough i was able to repair it with paper pulp, vinegar and slip. "
Thanks Thomas