Mark your calendars and take a trip to the streets of Turkey through Ottawa Studio Works.

We feature a photographer’s three years of seeing Turkey through her upcoming photo show at Ottawa Studio Works.

Vernissage Details:
Saturday, October 13th; 3-8pm
OttawaStudioWorks.com
160 Preston St. (between Somerset and Gladstone)

Come walk the streets of Istanbul is a collection of photographic images from four Istanbul neighborhoods: Tarlabaşı, Eyup, Galatasary and Taxim.

The featured photographer is a teacher and photographer who spent 3 years living and working in Istanbul.

“Come walk the streets of Istanbul” ©

“In Istanbul, there is a café that has all the original glass, wood and brass fixtures from its construction in the 1840.  The walls are decorated with large tile mosaics depicting two of the four seasons.  The tiles were shipped over from France, but two seasons did not survive the voyage, so only spring and autumn are displayed. 

Here at the Café Markiz is where I enjoyed my first Turkish coffee, served with a glass of water and a piece of Turkish delight.  Proper Turkish coffee is rich and smooth, with creamy foam on top, served in a small espresso cup with a saucer. 

“Come walk the streets of Istanbul” ©

You have to be still when you drink it, because moving around will disturb the grounds and muddy the flavour.  It has to be savoured because the cups are small and you can’t drink it all the way to the bottom.  It is not really like coffee at all – more like a rich, sweet dessert – like a truffle – to be enjoyed at the end of a meal, or as a special treat late in the afternoon when you need a boost of energy.

I loved it so much that I had my Turkish colleagues teach me proper technique and we took turns making Turkish coffee for the office.  It became a friendly competition – who was closest to perfecting their technique? 

Turkey is filled with many such experiences for those who are willing to slow down, be still and embrace the unexpected; the beauty of the landscape, the layers of history, the mixtures of modern and ancient, the variety of food and regional delicacies, and most rewarding and beautiful of all, the warmth, generosity and civility of the people… A country with many flavours.

The collection of photographs in this exhibition is a visual short story of my experience with the human landscape of Istanbul.  So, come take a walk with me.”

“Come walk the streets of Istanbul” ©