Creating Beauty

In a world of challenge, be a glimmer

We all have the ability to add beauty to the world, don’t we? It could take the form of kindness, a work of art, an encouraging word or spring bulbs planted in the chill of autumn. In a world where anger and destruction seem to hold power, it’s even more important for each of us to notice, appreciate and create beauty wherever we can.

A little beauty of my own creation

Each of us has the potential to be a hero for someone else. The glimmers I have for you today are about quiet heroes deliberately transforming their communities with beauty.

In Iraq, the scars of war are ever-present. One artist refuses to see bullet-ridden walls as blemishes however. For Mukhaled Habeeb, these reminders of violence are a canvas for images of hope, resilience and change. With minimal lines, he transforms bullet holes into musical notes, butterflies, moonscapes and starry skies. His art doesn’t erase the damage; he offers a way of reframing and reinterpreting what was broken. The Bullet Transformation Project provides an alternative way of seeing the past and a chance to envision a different future.

There’s an anonymous painter who works at night in the streets of Brescia, northern Italy. Instead of creating art, he paints over walls damaged by graffiti, restoring them to their original state and colour. Known as “Ghost Pitúr”, he hides his identity with a hoodie and has no interest in recognition. When he completes a project, he leaves a note that says, “This is an act of urban love”. The only information he has shared about himself is that he is a professional painter during the day and works on facade restoration at night.

His approach is not about removing creativity but about recognizing the difference between vandalism and meaningful expression.

“When I see a well-done piece of work, with a message, a plan, a chosen color, a true artistic intention, I stop. I would never touch it”.

~ Ghost Pitúr

In 2015, a mother and daughter in Etzatlán, Mexico began crocheting raffia into medallions to decorate the trees in honour of their patron saint. The mayor was impressed and paid women crafters to join the project. By 2019, 200 women were working together and the canopy had grown to 32,000 square feet. The canopy was hung high above the street and became known as Cielo Tejido (woven sky) offering beauty and shade to hot streets.

Soon the women were asked to crochet a canopy large enough to wrap the Mexican pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai. The work continues, with crocheted squares donated from around the world. You can view their creations and installations on their website, Cielo Tejido and even purchase a kit with instructions to join the project.

“At Cielo Tejido, every thread we weave is a contribution to positive social change and the strengthening of our society.”

How are you contributing to everyday beauty in your immediate circle? I’d love to hear about it. Drop a note in the comments and share a photo. Yet another way of adding glimmers to each other’s world.

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