The Art of the Everyday: Zippers, Seahorses, and Ice City Funlands

 

We are surrounded by masterpieces hiding in plain sight, waiting only for an "abstract eye" to pull them into focus. It is incredibly easy to get caught up in the rigid routines of daily life, seeing objects only for what they are supposed to be. But when we slow down and look at our surroundings through a creative lens, the ordinary world transforms into a playground of imagination.

This evening, on October 22, 2026, a simple plate of fried plantain became an unexpected gallery of art. Like many, I detest the line of black seeds running down the center of the sweet, caramelized fruit, and I usually cast it aside. To me, it has always resembled a tiny, organic zipper. But tonight, instead of throwing it away, I looked closer.

Against a stark background, that discarded piece of plantain shed its culinary identity entirely. In its deep amber and gold edges, I saw the rich textures of a curved guitar body. In the rhythmic, onyx rows of the seed zipper, the delicate spine of a seahorse emerged. With a slight shift in perspective, it even mimicked the proud, elegant tilt of a llama's neck. What most would dismiss as kitchen waste was actually a beautiful, intricate sculpture molded by nature and fire.

The magic continued just a few moments later at the window, proving that procrastination sometimes has its own rewards. If it weren't for my own dilly-dallying when it came to getting the windows cleaned, I would have never witnessed this magnificent piece of abstract art. Looking out at the evening sun making its fierce, blazing escape toward the horizon, I snapped a quick picture through the glass.

The camera caught the brilliant, bursting light reflecting through the water streaks and residue on the pane, and the view completely morphed into a fantasy landscape. The dripping golden lines on the glass instantly became majestic spires, glowing caverns, and frozen icicles under a brilliant warmth. It was no longer a simple backyard window; it had transformed into a sprawling, magical ice city funland.

Seeing that glorious city built out of dust and sunlight brought my mother’s voice right back to me. Whenever people would harshly criticize the poor, helpless, or those living in messy circumstances, she would firmly shut down the pretense by saying, “From the day I was born, I have never heard of dirt killing people unless it tumbled down on them.”

She was entirely right. Real creativity doesn't require a spotless museum or a pristine gallery; it only requires us to open our eyes, embrace the abstract, and appreciate the accidental wonder right in front of us.

Tah-Tah! Sometimes dirt holds the richest treasures.

Grace Dunkley-Asphall, Copyright © 2026