Creating Relics, Ruins and Personal Objects
Susan Lenart Kazmer & Nanette Yannuzzi-Macias
Bodrum, Turkey: June 2009

A 10-day retreat set in the coastal city of Bodrum, in Turkey. All workshops and lodging will take place at Cura, a residency of five gorgeously designed living spaces run by Neshe Filiz.

Our first three days will include of a series of tours to turkish markets, artists studios, beaches and local villages where women are still involved in many traditional crafts. This will sent the tone and inspiration for the following five days of workshops with Susan Lenart Kazmer and Nanette Yannuzzi-Macias, with artist Iz Oztat speaking on and acquainting us with regional arts practices including a co-sponsored introductory lecture on aspects of ancient sufism and how ideas of spirituality and mysticism inform the making of objects.

Focusing on spiritual practices and the building of talismans
participants will immerse themselves in mixed media explorations
including metals, paper, book binding and traditional crochet
techniques.

Cost: $3,200
A deposit of $1600 is due by June 2008. Final payments are due by January 2009.

Dates: Arrival on June 29th, Tours on July 1-3. Workshops are held on July 4-7. Departure on July 8th.

Interested in joining us? contact Susan or Nanette with any questions or to sign up.

A Statement from our host Iz Oztat:

I think we all have a belief in material, tranformative processes and their potential to empower. Susan works with the idea of talismans and that can provide a nice framework for the cultural
attractions. We can go by bus to a village that is about two hours away (have a quick look at a local market before), which has incredible architecture and all the women still wear traditional dresses with lots of ornament and beads. We can go to a house, be their guest, look through their dowry chests to see the handwork, the material that surrounds and supports their culture in the form of talismans. we can go to gumusluk one day, visit a glass bead
maker and the man who makes lamps out of gourds, which can give an insight to invented local crafts. we can have a visit at the underwater museum in bodrum... and we can invite a woman from the village, who can show how to make some local crafts and my
mother can show that crocheting that she was doing...

If you have any questios about our location or accomodations you can contact Iz at izoztat@yahoo.com

Inspiration for the Adventure: