The Turkish Times/Culture

Anatolian Artisans of Bethesda, MD
An Ark of Handicrafts in a Sea of Mass Merchandising
Albert Nekimken, Special to The Turkish Times - In Istanbul, Christ shines in Byzantine mosaic in the 5th Century church of Hagia Sofia and 16th Century Iznik tiles glow in the neighboring Blue Mosque. The descendants of the people who created these wonders live in modern Turkey, whose artisans still create beautiful plates, jewelry, and objects of stone, iron, bronze, silver and gold, using the ancient patterns of the Sun, the Moon, and other objects of nature. More

"La Kula 1930" Musical a Hit in Israel
"La Kula" is Ladino for "Kuledibi" in Istanbul. All the amateur actors are members of "Dostluk Yurdu Dernegi", also known as "Klub Amikal" (Friendship Club) of Istanbul.
Rachel Bortnick, Special to The Turkish Times - In these times of terrorism when so many people fear going to Israel, more than 80 Jews from Turkey took the musical "La Kula" to Israel to express their solidarity. The musical play was performed three times, on the 27th and 28th of October, 2002, in Bat-Yam and in Tel Aviv. More

Turkish Painter Bengisu Awarded by Japan
The Turkish Times, BOLU - Assistant Prof. Hatice Bengisu from the Abant Izzet Baysal University in northwestern province of Bolu was awarded in an international contest in Kyoto, Japan.
Bengisu told the A.A correspondent on Saturday that she had won the 4th Kiwa Exhibition Oniclub Prize in the 4th Kyoto International Communityhouse Contest. Bengisu noted that she had joined the contest with a black-and-white work entitled ''Relationship''. Meanwhile, Izzet Baysal University Rector Prof. Dr. Yasar Akbiyik said that Bengisu's success in an international contest was very pleasing. ''We will continue to support works of our academicians in science and art,'' he added.