By
Heidi Trautmann
Clay,
a material connecting us to the past, a timeless carrier of culture. Clay, a
messenger whose language everybody can understand. Clay and its many ways of
working it, bringing together people who want to express themselves. Feeling
the softness of clay and creating something with your own hands is an
experience so very valuable; creating a bowl, birds in flight, human ribs, the
horns of a Capricorn or even the Tower of Babel.
Never
have I seen such a well-attended opening event but it proves that the working
with one’s hands and with the material of clay is becoming more and more
interesting for young and old, yes, young and old guests came to the opening
and were genuinely interested. This special art form that extends its
usefulness into all niches of our life, into our living spaces and to public
spaces as a decorative part in architecture.
On
the poster attached the participating artists are shown. Tomrul Tomgüsehan (one
of the seven founding members), Semral Öztan (former president of the
association), Hasan Saydam, Fatma Özok, Nergül Gezer Dündar (today’s president
of the association), Hasan Işik, Fatma Madali, Nevber Okur, Sinem Saydam, Hasan
Eminağa (former president of the association), Ülviye Percini Oksu, Özge Refik
Kutsay, Özlem Kul Durmaz, Eser Keçeci,
Özlem Kul Durmaz, Hayal Dimililer, Bedia Kale, Osman Murabık. Vedia
Okutan Gaydeler.
The
North Cyprus Ceramists Association was founded in 1999, by a handful of
ceramists to promote the art form; please read about it in the links hereafter.
http://www.heiditrautmann.com/category.aspx?CID=6633521313#.WjszIFWWaUk
http://www.heiditrautmann.com/category.aspx?CID=2568812363#.WjszzlWWaUk
For
many years I have been following their activities and did interviews with some
of the members who, over the years have established their own meeting places
and art schools. The number of artists working with clay is increasing and it
attracts more and more people to join ceramic workshops. We are at the end of the year 2017, so my
best wishes go with them. May the association continue to grow and cultivate
this art form for our society.