After 28 blissful months in Kadirga, my landlord got greedy. Forced out of our happy home – in January! In the snow! He cut the utilites! Meow! – My cats and I made an unwise decision based on panic, borrowed money, and found ourselves living across from a titty bar & a police station in Tarlebaşı. We were…
DISPLACED – BOOK 20 – March-August 2007 – Drawing On Istanbul —
What a shock to discover later that this is one of the best sketchbooks I ever produced, whining and all!!
WALL OF THE GREAT HAN
Genial fellows here remind me of my dad—– An icy wind – And sun – Several glorious cold days in April in this 600-year-old workplace — Backside of Büyük Han – Hill below Grand Bazaar—— and below: the box of new kittens, the tulip glasses of tea, the pile of mannikins – it’s woodworkers all here in this eternal workshop.
AD HOC FOUNTAIN TAKE ONE
Dozens of working guys washed up at this antique ad-hoc fountain while I was drawing it. This Byzantine marble capital it’s built on looks like it hasn’t been moved in a thousand years- likely it hasn’t. This has been a Han- a workplace-for many centuries —
JUST ANOTHER DAY IN 1000 YEARS
Spice Bazaar next to Rustem Paşa Camii – April 2007——I love this drawing. The wall is still there, and all the passersby, and the best meatball shop in Tahtakkale.
AD HOC FOUNTAIN & CEM
Cem, 10, very proud & happy in his job — First day of Spring 2007—— Kurtuluş Han, in Karakoy, is one of the oldest working hans in Istanbul. Beautifully aged, not restored but maintained, it has a cheerful energetic feel embodied by Cem, here. I had to ask his employer if he could hold still for five minutes so I could draw him!
BÜYÜK VALIDE HAN WIRING
The Han is a lot older than electricity.
THE FACE SHE DESERVES
Glorious towering plane tree walkway in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, a city allowed to keep its trees – Oh I weep for the poor ruined trees of Istanbul —- I‘ve been in Istanbul too long — Green everywhere, trash cans no litter, a man wearing a big gold cross —- Cafe tricked out like a boudoir, and this in it – The face she deserves —- Visa Run!! A happy day in PLOVDIV, Bulgaria – Green towers of trees, churches, & roast pork — Fell asleep in the park on a shady green hillock under the magnificent trees. The train to Plovdiv: AAAAH. After 9 or 20 quick & dirty visa runs on the bus to Bulgaria, I got to walk around for a whole day – SIGH—–
BORIS & THE EMPTY PLATE
Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Slept 2 hours in the park with the bird cries. Sat in this park cafe 3 hours, the trees are healing me —- There’s a happy cat under the table with a lot of pork bones & I’m stuffed. Fabulous old 50’s American Rock; “Carol” – “Diana” – Drunk on the trees & the best pork ribs I ever ate. Tried to hold out but had to draw the empty plate – Waiter a young, handsome Boris Karloff – 15 May 2007——
Back home, the place in Tarlebasi was shaping up, but slowly. I had put in bathrooms but there was no kitchen or Internet.