Festival Meandros ’08
Entire region on the same platform for a stronger voice
From Didim to Doğanbey, Akköy to Avşar, Milet to Herakleia, in the Delta of Civilizations history has a rendezvous with art between 27 June and 27 July, for a whole month. Sculpture Symposium, concerts at ancient sites, exhibitions and ateliers for promoting and perpetuating the local culture, step for step culture trips and nature walks…
All these activities eventuate with the support of institutions, councils and NGOs in the Great Meander Delta.
For Participation
For those who consider participating in Sculpture Symposium, Photography Days or other activities, the conditions and protocols will be released on this website in early 2008. You may e-mail us now if you wish and we will inform you on the developments.
Friends of Meander Culture and Art
You may also contribute to our efforts in reviving the cultural and artistic life in the region. You may join the Friends of Meandros Culture and Art; become a member of Golden Meander. For further details, please check the Golden Meander pages. We would be very pleased to see you among us.
Photos of Meandros
You can look through the photograph albums to see the Delta of Civilisations Meandros, the place of activities for Festival Meandros.
“Stone Sculptures of large dimensions at open space areas; reaching out for the thoughts, feelings, problems and dreams running through the spirits of each artist…
The relation an artist establishes with everything surrounding him, with the universe, encloses also the spectator, which suggests the capacity of the empathy.
At the 1st Didyma International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Meandros Delta will inspire sculptors from all over the world, and their inspiration will reach to us carved in stone. The chronicles of thousands of years ago, left to us in the stones of Herakleia, Priene, Miletus and Didyma, will be open letters sent to the future in the works of contemporary artists.”
Nilhan SESALAN, Sculptor (Istanbul Sculptors)
“To get to know the team of young colleagues and art-lovers who have organised this event warmed my heart. I believe it is a very good, civilized and decent event.
Didim is a major centre in the Aegean Region for the Hellenistic architecture and sculpture. It is bliss for modern art to bloom after so many centuries again in this vicinage, where the most distinguished examples of Hellenistic sculpture were made. Didim materializes by the human factor. What a pleasure it is for all those people of art and culture who come from throughout the world to join this event. I can already see that Didim will be decorated once more with works of art, this time in the modern sense.”
Ali Teoman GERMANER (Aloş), Sculptor, previous Head of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Sculpture Department
“In the Delta of Civilizations, while architecture, mathematics, astronomy, performing arts, philosophy and many other disciplines prospering in their first golden age, we know that music also played an important role in daily life. Yet, we have very little knowledge on what that music sounded like…
Polyphonic music, whose foundations had been laid by these early Anatolian civilizations and which became the universal means of expression for the “West” and the values it stands for, today can be performed by the youth of these lands to the utmost level.
The most significant activity to show youth that adopting Anatolia in real terms can only be possible by embracing all these civilizations is to wake up the “sleeping beauties” of the Meandros Delta, the amphitheatres and temples, with the music performed by the youth…”
Cem MANSUR, Conductor (Akbank Chamber Orchestra and Istanbul 2010 Music Director)
“Sleeping Beauties Awaken!...”
“A delta of ‘culture and history’ where numerous ancient cities integrate with a rich variety of natural beauties… A realm of fertility and art, which Meandros (i.e. Great Meander River) renowned for its myths bestowed on Anatolia while flowing into the sea…
This is an embrace both locked closely and also from every side… ‘Locked closely’ because probably no river embraces the sea, history, culture and life with such a motherly passion…
‘From every side’ because probably in none of the similar embraces, the accumulations of past civilizations and creativity outspread to high on the mountains and deep in the rivers surrounding an immense plain…
In short, Meandros Basin is such an Anatolian geography that it is both the source of life for a unique delta of civilizations and also it is a ‘culture park’ of history…”
Oktay EKİNCİ, Architect, Writer (Cumhuriyet Newspaper)
Step for Step Delta of Civilizations
The primary cause of destruction of cultural and natural heritage is oblivion. Thus, the solution of this problem should be considered an educational urgency. The education should start with children who will not regard this heritage as an escrow but adopt it as their own. It is indisputable that in order to interpret today and to build the future, one must first analyze the past. This means only those who know their past and adopt their rich cultural heritage will be capable of building their future.
(from the Archaeological Settlements of Turkey Project Damage Report)
“Stone, Scissors, Paper”
Ist Didyma International
Stone Sculpture Symposium
27 June -27 July, Old Village Yoran / Didim
Sculptures:
Gerardo Arribas Perez-Diaz (Spain)
Taro Kitagawa (Japan)
Roland Romedius Steger (Italia)
Songül Telek (Türkiye)
Ciumacu Valeriu (Ukraine)
Gülsin Onay Piano Recital
6 July, Sunday, 21.00
The Temple of Apollo / Didim
Bodrum Chamber Orchestra
7 July, Monday, 21.00
The Temple of Apollo / Didim
“Eros and Psyche”
Kusadasi Kale Kapisi Dance Theatre
12 July, Saturday, 21.00
Ancient Agora / Herkaleia
(Kapıkırı Village / Lake Bafa)
19 July, Saturday, 21.00
The Temple of Apollo / Didim
National Youth Orchestra
Conductor: Cem Mansur
26 July, Saturday, 21.00
Miletus Amphitheatre / Didim
Organisers:
National Youth Orchestras Association,
Kusadasi Tourist Guides Association
Organisers:
Didim Council,
Istanbul Sculptors
Organizers:
Kuşadası Ekodosd Association,
Aydın Province Nature Protection and National Parks District Office,
Village Administrations of Avşar, Serçin, Kapıkırı, Gölyaka, Doğanbey and Akköy
Doğanbey, Dilek Peninsula – Great Meander Delta National Park
5 July, Saturday, 10.00 - 19.00
(Meeting point: Old Doğanbey Village / Söke)
Herakleia, Gölyaka Village, Monastery of the Seven Brothers, Kapıkırı Village
12 July, Saturday, 16.00 - 19.00
(Meeting point: Gölyaka Village / Bafa Lake)
Stork Friendly Avşar Village, Lake Azap, Myus, Serçin, Serçin Winter Quarters
13 July, Sunday, 16.00 - 19.00
(Meeting point: Avşar Village / Sarıkemer - Söke)
Building a Bridge between the Art of 3000 Years and Today…
“As you know many artists such as Picasso, Miro had their paintings woven into carpets. I do not weave my paintings into carpets but design specifically for carpets. For instance, prayer rugs… I find prayer rugs very aesthetic. It has always aroused my interest what people pray to, why people pray. I think of using the ancient patterns, flowers of this locality in designing the Meandros Carpets. I would like to know the local people intimately during this one month period. As well as the patterns and flowers of the past, the dreams, beliefs and stories of those who weave the carpets also are symbolized in the designs. In fact, carpets are like diaries. In the past, every one used to know the meanings of the patterns. Needle laces on cloths are also symbols: Women communicate with one another through them. Unfortunately we have long forgotten the meanings of those symbols. We have forgotten what the symbols such as comb, tree, and mirror used as patterns in carpets stand for. For example, when a mother weaves a carpet for her daughter’s dowry, she embroiders all her wishes as patterns in the carpet. It is very important for me to be able to grasp this language.”
Peter HRISTOFF, Painter, Professor (New York School of Visual Arts)
History and Art in Frames
Caricature Workshop with Aptülika
4 July, Friday, 17.30
Pld Village Yoran / Didim
25 July, Friday, 17.30
Priene / Güllübahçe
Children Meet Archaeology
Miletus Trip with Archaeologists and Art Historians, Archaeological Excavations Game
20 July, Sunday, 16.00
Miletos / Didim
Organizers:
Didim Council,
Miletus Museum,
Kusadası Tourist Guides Association
Meandros Loop by Loop
Organizers:
Güllübahçe Council,
Meandros Culture, Art and Tourism Association
Meandros Carpet Atelier
27 June - 27 July
Priene /Güllübahçe
American artist Peter Hristoff, whose carpet designs won wide acclaim with his exhibition entitled “PRAYER” in Hagia Sophia, will be working at the loom together with the women of Güllübahçe during the entire Festival.
Carpet and Rug Exhibition
25 July, Friday, 19:30
Priene / Güllübahçe
The carpets and rugs designed by Peter Hristoff and woven in Güllübahçe will be displayed for a month and will be on sale to help survive the atelier.
Music and Dance at Ancient Sites
Culture trips and Nature Walks, Village Feasts, Local Troubadours, Village Markets, Local Flavours, Handicrafts
Children’s Workshops
Carpet Design Atelier with Peter Hristoff
