tree of life in my coffee cup

Life is really good when one of your best friends also happens to be a gourmet chef, a talented 'coffee-cup reader" and a Shiatsu therapist!  I spent the Sunday at Miss F's house taking advantage of her endless hospitality :)

Can you see the tree of life and the many birds with auspicious news perched on it?  Well, Miss F certainly could, and who am I to question her authority?  Auspicious news, it is.  I am ready for it.  :)

Typefaces for Dog Lovers

 

found this image via black white bliss via dog milk

loved it!  although german shepherds and golden retrievers are sadly missing.  

i am tempted to go through all the fonts in my computer and try to do a pairing :)

Mengu Ertel's Posters

This weekend I had a chance to visit to Mengu Ertel's (1931-2000) exhibition as well. 

The extensive collection at the Yapi Kredi Art Gallery shows that he was truly a remarkable and multi-faceted artist.  Mengu Ertel is world-famous for his theater posters, of which he has created hundreds.   They are so simple yet so powerful, relaying their message in an instant. 

Here are a couple of images that struck me...

 

Poster for La Passion de Jeanne D’arc

 

and its development...

 Poster for the Ballad of Ali of Keshan

and its development...

 tools of the trade....

 The Poster for the 1st Istanbul Music Festival

Poster for Pir Sultan Abdal

Don't be like me and wait until the last minute to see this exhibition.  Go and meet Mengu Ertel through his works.

Gozde Ilkin's Exhibition

Yesterday I stopped by Art Sumer on Istiklal Street to visit Gozde Ilkin's exhibition. 

Usually I have trouble connecting with contemporary art (I am being unfashionably honest here), but i had a great time with Gozde's work.  It might have been the media that she prefers (textiles) that drew me in, or the entertaining and cynical approach to cultural elements that surround our everyday lives. Whatever the reason, I had a great time.  Check it out before it is over if you can...

Meeting TurkishWIN

 

photo credit to casper senibal

Yesterday I attended a women's networking event.

I listened to 4 women, Melek Pulatkonak, Ozlem Denizmen Kocatepe, Anastasia Ashman and Sedef Koktenturk.  Each with very clearly defined goals, incredible stamina and persistence.

Melek is working to form a women's networking group for women with ties to Turkey (TurkishWIN).  Currently she has less than 100 women in her network.  Her goal is 100.000 by 2014.  The room where the event was held was quite crowded.   Based on that, and on her visible determination, I am sure she will get there.

Ozlem Denizmen Kocatepe is another wonder-woman, with ivy league education, interesting corporate job, husband and 2 kids, a blog and a tv program to educate other women in financial issues.  We watched a short section of her tv program, which was indeed very funny and educational at the same time.  Actions speak louder than words. 

Anastasia Ashman is a remarkable expat writer who is using her creative skills to connect women who want to operate to their fullest potential wherever they are.   Her goal is to design a life where work equals play.  I can only say Amen to that.  In order to achieve her goal, she pursued her pastimes and discovered what 'play' meant for her.  I intend to spend sometime on her website; expatHarem, where likeminds meet others who are also seeking to find their 'global niche' and create their hybrid identity.

Sedef Koktenturk, an Olympian wind-surfer in 2008 Beijing Olympics, took a 2 year sabbatical from her high powered Goldman investment banking job to train, try and participate in the Olympics.  After two years of intense training she did not qualify for the Olympics, landing instead in the waitlist.   Yet her luck changed just 2 months before the Olympics, when another athlete from the Turkish team disqualified and she was invited to participate.  Her calm self-confidence and down-to-earth attitude was refreshing.

I came out of the event with determination to 'do' more, and design my life with more joy and less self-judgement. 

I thank all the ladies who organized the event and invested time in it.  It was well worth it. 

Go, shorty. It's your birthday.

Musing in Istanbul is now a year old blog!

I am going to go ahead and pat myself on the back for getting outside of my comfort zone (i am a shy person), doing something for the first time and sticking with it for this long (this is my 105th post, not bad for a person with the attention span of a monkey).

Sunny and Crispy Bebek

Yesterday, I was mostly home, resting and indulging on fresh simits, but made time for a little walk in the afternoon.  Our destination was Takanik in Arnavutkoy.  That wonderful low key place, with delicious sea food and great prices...  I did not use to be a fan of the fish soup before I tasted Takanik's version.  Now I am a convert.  Apart from culinary pleasures, I have also been discovering the pleasures of photoshop.  I borrowed a photoshop book from my cousin and have been diligently studying.   So much fun :)  Hopefully my new skills will be coming handy with the new project we have been working on.  Soon to be introduced :)