They Call Me Caterina...

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... this is my story.

In Italy, it was the common name given to the slaves from the Constantinople, today's Istanbul, Caterina.

Her son traveled to Turkey and Azerbaijan to discover his Caucasian roots. His findings as well as researches say his mother was hailed from... Azerbaijan and a Muslim. This very well-researched novel about the mother of Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), slave mother Caterina da Vinci, is the best work I have ever read in a long time!



A very colorful story of her relationship with her son who was destined to change the world forever; from his growth, his creative and inventive side to how daring is why his mother felt she had to protect him so long.



Warning: Anyone not interested in historical romance, Turkey and Renaissance Florence will not enjoy this truly captivating book.



"All other cities are doomed, but I imagine that as long as people exist, Constantinople will exist."
~Petrus Gyllius
French scientist,
(Albi, 1490 - Rome, 1555)

Light Breeze

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I always get great delight in reading Rumi's poems. Simply he speaks to the everyday experience. Brings love to the passion but not humanly love; the divine love, the spiritual love, love to God, to things created by God he is talking about!

Join me now, lets read one of his poems, Light Breeze, so begin to look at world with a different eye, drink the spiritual wine...

As regards feeling pain, like a hand cut in battle,
consider the body a robe

you wear. When you meet someone you love, do you kiss their clothes? Search out.

who's inside. Union with God is sweeter than body comforts.
We have hands and feet

different from these. Sometimes in dream we see them.
That is not

illusion. It's seeing truly. You do have a spirit body;
don't dread leaving the

physical one. Sometimes someone feels this truth so strongly
that he or she can live in

mountain solitude totally refreshed. The worried, heroic
doings of men and women seem weary

and futile to dervishes enjoying the light breeze of spirit.

from Soul of
great Spiritual Master and Poet
Rumi (1207 - 1273)



When we seek to free ourselves from human vices and weaknesses in order to acquire angelic qualities and conduct pleasing to God, sufism is the path and followed by Rumi's followers, sufis as we call, to reach the truth-God. Usually we refer this term "being a dervish" as its practical aspect in our life.

So we achieve our goal by living "like a dervish" in accordance with the requirements of God's love and knowledge and in the resulting spiritual delights that ensue. If you would like to have the cute whirling dervish icon, NEW dervish necklaces are ON SALE, as scheduled and written on my previous post here (Only Breath)

I think my photos above give you an idea how it looks like. Emerald green colored and HANDMADE from vibrant world-wide known Turkish Iznik tilework with relief technique, the necklace inlay 925karat silver sterling. Accepting your orders when or if you think to buy.

Rise of The Slave Girl

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"Throne of my lonely niche, my wealth, my love, my moonlight,
My most sincere friend, my confidant, my very existence, my Sultan, my one and only love,
The most beautiful among the beautiful..
My springtime, my merry faced love, my daytime, my sweetheart, laughing leaf..
My plants, my sweet, my rose, the one only who does not distress me in this world..
My Istanbul, my Caraman, the earth of my Anatolia,
My Badakhshan, my Baghdad and Khorasan,
My woman of the beautiful hair, my love of the slanted brow, my love of eyes full of mischief..
I'll sing your praises always,
I, lover of the tormented heart, my eyes full of tears, I am happy."


What a deep love and devotion of the ruler to the empire's first sultana!

The tenth Ottoman Sultan, as known in our history 'Kanuni' (meaning "the Lawgiver), to the world historians as 'the Magnificent', Suleiman I (1494~1566) penned it for his unique love of Roxelana after she died in 1558, eight years before he do. Suleiman did not marry again.

The rise of this slave girl in the Ottoman Empire was a first. Ukrainia born this young girl was a daughter of a Ruthenian Orthodox priest. She was a teenager when she was captured by Crimean tatars and sold as a slave, brought to Istanbul into a major centre of the slave trade. She was selected from Istanbul slave market to Suleiman's harem. In his harem she was given the name of Hürrem because of her laughing and cheerful character. In a short time, she became Sultan's most favorite, and he broke with the Ottoman tradition and legally married her. During her life, Sultan's most beloved wife played a significant role in political decisions taken by the Suleiman, managed to change all that, and so became the successful and extremely powerful woman in our Turkish history of the 16th century!

We think of there was an intense love in that period that we did not bear witness, that was impossible but we can imagine. So many thanks to our great musician Can Atilla, that he gave us this imagination with an awesome song dedicated for Hürrem's extraordinary life story. When Hürrem was abducted and brought to the boat, she starts to sing the lullaby which her mother sang her.. is the theme of this song written by Can:

At the bright blue skies,
The lost northern star,
Banished dreams to the moonlight,
The past will be lost and gone.

In Rogatina, under the rain
I am taking an oath
on a little girl who is dancing
that her dreams are to become real.
...
...
...

Really exciting and gives the feeling about our history! This nice Sunday morning you can open out your dream world through this sensual and emotional song of "Love for Hürrem (Turkish: Aşk-ı Hürrem)", and take a journey to the time of Sultan Magnificent:





[On a side note] Being the recipient of numerous stage and music awards, his music is being appreciated widely both at home and abroad. Queen Elizabeth is also known as one of his fans. And, his new album 'Golden Age' to be released from next month, in April. For more about new age symphonic composer Can Atilla, visit www.canatilla.com

Days of Suite Vollard

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Wind of Spring, wind of Picasso both in town brings a unique atmosphere! To feel it, do not forget 'click+click' on my photos in the following:


I saw the engravings exhibition in early days of this month:


Picasso created one hundred copper etchings between Sept 1930 ~ Mar 1937 that have come to be known in art history as the Suite Vollard. Days of SV can be seen no longer than Apr 18 at Pera Museum:


They are certainly a-must-see works. Because the Suite Vollard engravings present Picasso's most important historic-artistic engraving series of the 20th century!


The series includes:

o 3 portraits of Ambroise Vollard
o 5 plates referred to Battle of Love
o 46 plates from The Sculptor's Studio
o 4 plates of Rembrandt
o 15 plates of The Minotaur and
o 27 misc compositions.

Here are a few from this series which reflected on my camera. I wanted to list some of his quotes under every work that I find to be worth on thinking and understanding this great artist once again while you are viewing them:

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."

"Everything you can imagine is real."

Scupltor, Reclining Model and Sculptore (1933)

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

Portrait of Vollard III (1937)

"When I was a child, my mother said to me 'If you become a soldier, you'll be a general. If you become a monk, you'll end up as a pope.' Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso."

Man Uncovering a Woman (1931)

"I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them."

Woman bullfighter II (1934)

"Who sees the human face correctly: the photographer, the mirror, or the painter?"

I just want to answer this: absolutely the painter!



"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers."


--- What do you think about the last quote? Computers are time wasters as he said, or builders? ---

Before Eve

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Lilith (above) is the first woman in the Garden of Eden, Adam's first wife before Eve. According to the Jewish myth. Eve? She is the second wife of Adam. Resources say that many feminists see Lilith as not only the first woman but the first independent woman created.

left: Pera Museum entrance
right: (my favorite) Picasso in his sculpture studio
at boisgeloup, 1934 - Brassai
bottom: visitors inside PM

In the weekend I was at Pera Museum www.peramuzesi.org.tr to see Spanish artist Pablo Picasso's most important engraving series: Suite Vollard, Engravings. Picasso's loves, nudity, passion and different mythological themes as well as biographic themes appear in these successful Engravings (Turkish: gravür) where not only the topics but also the style and the technique provide insight into the artist's creative universe of the time circa 1930s when he was at the height of his artistic production. Late afternoon I attended a Conference, and it was how I learned more about Lilith and rethinking Picasso. So far I knew of only Eve as the first woman...!

Where is the Pera Museum?

Meşrutiyet Cad. 65 Tepebaşı - Beyoğlu
(on the European side)

PS- keep tuned for more about engravings, notes and photos!

Forma + Funzione = Innovative

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Today I am feeling like a spring flower! I noticed the blossoms on the trees, and they get me excited for the spring and summer. If it could be possible I would take my basket and go to the green fields...



Dinners. One of our most special times and a good reason to be together with our families. This idea was his start point, created a FLOWER. A dining table with chairs which look like a green petals, super cool! His interesting designs cover less area, trés classy, practical, and green+friendly. When not in use, you can wrap it up! Also this would be so functional and smart solution for small apartments.

View
more wonderful creations from
turkish industrial product designer
Fatih Can Sarioz
at his studio

Drop by drop the lake is formed. This famous turkish quote comes realistic in today's hard economic conditions:) These exquisitely handcrafted basketwoven mini purses that so called DIAMOND (above) and SQUARE (below), look to be a fun to bring spring taste during your every day jewelery or coin, making them an exceptional accesories that you could carry even for every season to come next. Aside from being a very practical purse, it is very convenient especially travel times. Previously lived in Oklahoma, US - currently back in Istanbul, my sweet friend Inci whom I know such a long time is the secret name behind these so lovely creations.

View
her japanese inspired crafts that
each one show a very stylish and distinctive design,
at her etsy shop and her flickr

A Revolution Of Opening to God

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And who is the designer who subtly blended modern techniques and materials, western and eastern values into what might be the world's most conservative design?

Tall, fashionably dressed with long blond hair, Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu is a very well known profile in Turkey as a figure from country's cocktail-sipping jet set. She made a career decorating restaurants, boutique hotels and homes for the very wealthy.

Now.

She put a contemporary spin on religious art from the Ottoman era. A very First in my country Turkey: a mosque gets a woman's touch. Her touch!

On the mosque's walls, transparent boards at the entrance remind the visitors both in english and turkish about the prayers:

Cennet bekçileri onlara şöyle der: "Size selam olsun! Tertemiz oldunuz. Haydi ebedi kalmak üzere buraya girin."

"The keepers of the Heaven shall say to them: Peace be upon you; you have fared well, so enter it to dwell therein forever."

Şakirin Camii (English: The Şakirin Mosque)'s dome is 130 feet in diameter. Looks like a space ship. Coated in aluminum composite. The façades are decorated with a combination of glass and wrought-iron grills. Name of the monument -Şakirin- has also a literal meaning: "Those who are thankful to God", besides being the reference the family name.


The iron on the mosque's enormous iron and glass facade is hand-crafted by specialists in Istanbul. And the construction took four and a half years. Finally opened the doors on 7 May 2009 in Üsküdar on the Anatolian shore of the Bosphorus.

A welcoming Turkish religious aesthetics in glass, steel, blue and gold.

Ms Fadıllıoğlu said: "The glass etching has got different layers of gilding on it, which is from verses of the Holy Qur'an. We wanted people to feel more left alone with God in this place, rather than being distracted by too much ornamentation. I think that makes it more contemporary at the same time."

The mimbar or pulpit, resembles a graceful white stairway (above), which one imagines will continue to the heavens, but stops short at a platform where the Imam will stand. Then, the mihrab, a stylized niche designating the kibla, is tulip shaped and a vibrant turquoise in color (below): "An opening to God"

The glass drops are inspired by a prayer which asks that Allah's light should fall upon the supplicant like rain.

All I see is that she made her passion for all things Oriental and European sit together in easy and informal arrangements.


Ms Fadıllıoğlu said: "I want people to feel peaceful and be left themselves as much as possible, and yet have beautiful art and artistic symbolism around them."



Above slightly visible this blogging girl is pleased to have visited this the most modern mosque of Turkey to modern Islam by the first woman designer in a mosque architecture. If I go to describe... so beautiful but different from others. Modern but not cold. Transparent but in a perfect harmony with contemporary architecture. New styled for the millennium. No doubt this modern architecture will adopt new generations.

For centuries Istanbul was the capital of Islamic world, and home to hundreds of magnificent old mosques. Now the City has a unique new addition! Yes, the start of a new era of mosque design in Turkey just started! Small steps to be sure, but important ones for the future of women in Islamic world.

I hope not only we, but the world will see also more of these beautiful monuments like mosques, touched by women's hands:)

Ve de ki: "Rabbim! Girilecek yere dürüstlükle girmemi sağla, çıkılacak yerden dürüstlükle çıkmamı sağla. Katından bana yardımcı bir yetki ver."

Say: "My Lord, make my entry a truthful one and my going out a truthful one, and grant me from You a supporting power."

In The Blue Turtle Garden

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Yazma belongs to the people,


Yazma is made of essential values,


Yazma mixes colors and forms into life...


Yazma is generous, docile and useful...


Yazma gives freshness and joy...


May painting follow suit!


An important tradition originated by Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu [1913-1975], who's a famous painter, writer and poet, and continued by his family is the "59th Yazma (=Hand-Painted Textile) Festival" in the beginning of every June. Both Bedri Rahmi and Eren performed their art for years in media and techniques ranging from paintings to drawings in pencil, from the mural to the mosaic, from ceramic to the Yazma.

This Festival is taking place in Mavi Kaplumbağa (=Blue Turtle) Garden of Eyüpoğlu Family House (below) this weekend in Kalamış at the Anatolian side, where is only a few minutes away from my home. It's decorated with cheerful and colorful Yazmas and presented to old friends and new admirers. Oh one of these new admirers is me, of course:) And I did not want to miss out! On the first day, yesterday, we decided to go. The day started having a cocktail party:


The fresh fruits, full plates of cheeries and plums from the garden and white wine were served. We all were feeling so good ourselves, and it was a superb day from heaven. I see you are ready, now shall we continue touring inside?


A hand-painted block print, as we call in turkish 'Yazma' is produced from this block like above. In Turkey this ancient form of traditional art expressed itself mostly with flowers, animal figures and in geometric figures.

But in the 1950's the very well-known Turkish painters Bedri Rahmi and Eren Eyüpoğlu brought new energy to this almost extinct form of art by using their own designs in printing. Here's an example, Bedri Rahmi's Life Tree as follows:

"For me block prints cannot be anything, but paintings. What started me on block print making was the desire to take the art of painting to the common people."

By Bedri Rahmi Eyüpoğlu

Being enthusiastic character, Bedri Rahmi who loves Anatolian folk arts and people, painted fish, nereids he called 'Melengeç', Boats of Karagöz, Pomegranates, 'Bodrum' motifs, 'Self-Portraits' bordered with pomegranates, an 'Owl', and 'Nereids between Two Slices of Red Watermelon'. A few more samples:

This new form of expression reached full of maturity in the works of their son Mehmet Hamdi [1939-2009]. The entrance of his Atelier where he worked:

And, his chair still stands in the garden as a memorial corner, with his two symbols, his cap and a Yazma. This year in March Yazmas lost their Father, but his successors and students keep alive the tradition with this Festival every summer.


His used various techniques and effects in areas of varying shapes and dimensions from paintings, mosaics, calligraphies, engravings, serigraphs, murals, three dimensional architectural elements, reliefs, glass objects, and to plates, all embellish the walls of our cities or our homes with his original motifs, giving them character and color jollification! And, lovely items such as pillows, bedcovers, table cloths, teeshirts, bags, bookmarks, many many more find their owners here:






Because this is the only chance to use the art of Yazma in our houses! As a result of the artworks he left behind are in front of us as permanent traces of his intention and the effort he showed in this 'path'. So I find it impossible not to admire these artists who have given life to this regular piece of cloth with a dab of paint. I made really enjoyable & tasteful shopping,... and I was leaving the Blue Turtle Garden with some thoughts on my mind: with or without the means and talent of art, every now and then looking deep into oneself can be healing and give ways to the new ventures.


"The recently flourishing idea of architect-artist cooperation has started to materialise in the United States and Europe. What is certain is that architecture is the provider of best light, the best life span, the chance of being exhibited to the most people to any painting. Without the magical touch of architecture a painting is forced to live a nomadic life, in other words be forced to be buried alive or rather rest asleep forever confined in some dark museum corner."
By Bedri Rahmi Eyüpoğlu, Mar 13th 1952