Visiting Istanbul's Modern Art Museums

Istanbul is one of the world's most exciting and exotic cities. It has a history revealing artefacts unearthed from the seventh millennium B.C., which indicates that the area that is now the country's largest city was inhabited before even the Bosphorus was formed. Not only is the city an amazing amalgamation of culture and history, it is also one that has the unique aspect of straddling two continents.


Split between Asia and Europe, the city has more attractions and historical sites than many others and, while you are enjoying a stay in one of the best Istanbul hotels, you can soak up the atmosphere of luxury and plan your exploration of the city's wonderful art museums. Istanbul has a thriving and growing art scene that benefits from the merging of East and West, and the new art coming out of the city demands that you pay attention. While here, be sure to visit the Museum of Modern Art, the Elgiz Museum of Contemporary Art and the Santral Istanbul.

Museum of Modern Art

Conveniently located near some of the best Istanbul hotels, at Meclis-i Mebusan Cad. Antrepo No: 4, Tophane, the Museum of Modern Art is a testament to the "New Istanbul" art scene. The museum was founded in 2004; it was the first of its kind and is still the largest modern art gallery in the city. As an entrée, visitors find themselves among the containers which seem to have come straight off of the Bosphorus and into an elaborate room with books for a ceiling: a work of art by Wentworth. From there, wander through the permanent exhibits, which include works by Seker Ahmet Ali Pasa, Sema Gürbüz, and Ismet Dogan, just to name a few. The temporary exhibits change frequently and the museum has interactive exhibits for young visitors as well as a café to relax before heading back out into the buzz of the city.

The Elgiz Museum of Contemporary Art

First founded in 2001, in 2005 the Elgiz came under a new name and its mantra seeks to "facilitate the globalisation of contemporary Turkish art, whilst familiarising the viewing public with a wealth of important international art" - which it certainly does. Charting modern art for the past fifteen years, the glass warehouse in the Maslak business district is a beacon for new and emerging artists. While on a weekend, or longer, break in one of the best Istanbul hotels, you simply must see the works of the Elgiz in order to know who and what is hot (and not) in the Turkish art scene. If you plan your visit at the right time of the day you can pop in for the lectures and talks that are often held at the museum.


The Santral Istanbul

Drag yourself away from the comforts of the best Istanbul hotels and have a driver take you to the Santral Istanbul; you may feel a twinge of nostalgia as it somewhat mirrors the industrial feel of the Tate Modern in London. The Santral is housed in the Ottoman Empire's first power plant (Silahtaraga), and its cool, sleek exterior certainly lends itself well to the array of contemporary artworks inside. It was opened in 2007, and is part of the campus of the Istanbul Bilgi University. Depending on when you visit, you can see digital art, film, sculpture, fine arts and other forms of creativity in this ever-changing exhibition space. And should you get peckish while wandering around, you can pop into one of the three cafes and then visit the interesting Museum of Energy, which is also housed here.

Looking for the best Istanbul hotels? Roberta Stuart is the Travel Manager for Worldhotels, a company offering the best rooms in a selection of unique four and five star hotels around the world.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roberta_Stuart


     

The Earliest Pieces of Etruscans Sculpture

The Etruscans were a people living in north central Italy form the 8th century onward.  Before the middle of the 7th century, they occupied an area of west central Italy bounded on the east by the valley of the Tiber and on the north by the Cecina River.  These were the regions of classical Etruria in which the Etruscan civilization reached its height in the 6th century B.C.

The very earliest pieces of Etruscan statuary are flat rectilinear figurines from Vetulonia and Capodimonte di Bolsena.  These figures ocur in later contexts in the Regonlini-Galassi and Bernardini tombs, both of which contain pieces in a more advanced style which cannot have developed much later.  These are figures of women in pigtails and long skirts depicted in a style not unlike that of north Syrian, although this female type, copied in ivory and amber, is certainly local.





The above is just a bit of art history trivia that you may find interesting.  Art enjoyment comes in many forms - that of today's modern paintings and art appreciation of older eras.  Discovering art of the past is a great way to appreciate and learn about the art that is created in today's world.  Ancient styles are copied or used as inspiration for today's artists.  Art history styles sometimes repeat in today's art world. Find some of my own works of art at:  Dee Phillips Galleries

Are you interested in becoming an artist?  Do you want to refine your art techniques? Get Real Art Lessons, ebooks and DVD's, by Artist Delmus Phelps to get instructive information On How To Make Photo-realistic Paintings. Create realistic paintings in oils of flowers, still life...and much more!  Click Here!

What is Etching?

Etching is an art form using the process of biting lines or areas onto a metal plate by means of an acid, with a view to being printed.  Lines may be etched onto a metal plate without its being printed, as an art form itself as a decorative purpose, but normally the metal plate is used as a printing device. 

Etching differs from line engraving by the process by which the lines are incised.  In engraving an instrument is used to scoop a shaving out of the metal.  Etching uses a chemical action.  A print from an etching is distinguished from an engraved print by the fact that in an etching the lines do not diminish or increase gradually in thickness, but do so in a more (or less) abrupt stage and the endings of the lines are square.  In an engraving the ends of the lines tend to tape gradually to an end.  Engraving and etching have been used in conjunction with one another throughout history. 

There is another facet of etching as well, called dry point.  This is the process of scratching a line directly on the metal plate surface using an etching needle.  In its passage the needles leaves an irregular ridge on either side of the line creating a 'burr' to which the ink adheres to create a blurred effect.  This effect is often used as another aspect of the etching technique.

Etching was probably invented (as with engraving) north of the Alps, and the greatest works of this process appeared in Germany, France and England, as well as the Netherlands.  Its beginnings appeared as early as the 15th century and at the end of 17th century it was used as means of decorating metal, particularly armor.  It seems probable that the earliest works came from goldsmiths and the idea of printing from the plates came from them as well.

Many artists throughout history have used the etching process in their artistic endeavors.  Francisco Goya (1746 - 1828) is one notable artist that used this technique in his art works.  In France, Theodore Rousseau (1812 - 1867), Charles Jacque (1813 - 1894), and C. F. Daubigny (1817 - 1878) are among many other famour artists, which also include Rembrant.

Today etching is still used as an art form by many artists.  Copper offers the most suitable surface for etching, but zinc is widely used as well.  Iron can also be used with nitric acid, but it is highly susceptible to atmospheric conditions.  The best thickness for etching plates is 16 to 18 gauge.  Thinner plates tend to buckle under the etching process.








Find some of my own works of art at:  Dee Phillips Galleries

Are you interested in becoming an artist?  Do you want to refine your art techniques? Get Real Art Lessons, ebooks and DVD's, by Artist Delmus Phelps to get instructive information On How To Make Photo-realistic Paintings. Create realistic paintings in oils of flowers, still life...and much more!  Click Here!

Who Was Alexandre Gustave Eiffel?

Eiffel Tower

Yes, you guessed it.  Alexandre Gustave Eiffel was the engineer and bridge builder of the Eiffel Tower.  The Eiffel Tower was built for the Paris exhibition of 1889.  Alexandre Effel was born in 1832 and attended the Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures in Paris from 1852 to 1855. 

Although you may not strictly consider building bridges or towers an art form, there is a certain amount of grace, fluidity and movement to the structures that mimics sculpture. In fact, in many of today's modern art sculptures the same principles of structure can be seen.

Eiffel also was master of airy two-hinged arches, such as that over the Douro river in Portugal. 

Eiffel designed the inner structure for the Statue of Liberty

Eiffel also gained fame by being responsible for designing the inner structure for the Statue of Liberty in New York.









Are you interested in becoming an artist?  Do you want to refine your art techniques? Get Real Art Lessons, ebooks and DVD's, by Artist Delmus Phelps to get instructive information On How To Make Photo-realistic Paintings. Create realistic paintings in oils of flowers, still life...and much more!  Click Here!

Embroidery as an Art Form

Embroidery is the decoration of fabric by means of a needle and thread.  It is needlework, but not just your basic everyday needlework that constitutes the creation and mending of fabric into garments and useful items, like pillows or sheets.  Embroidery is an art form that decorates or enhances the visual appeal of fabric.  It often creates a picture or design and is intended to be decorative. 

Embroidery has its history from a very early age, with paintings and carvings from Egypt indicating garments were embroidered in very early times.  Also history indicates early embroidery workings from the Orient and every quillwork (another means of embroidery) was done by the North American Indians and African tribes.

Different styles of embroidery, depending on the materials at hand in local cultures, have evolved in different parts of the world. 

Many embroidered works are treasured in today's art markets, where these artworks have gained appreciation by the use of colorful silks and gold and silver threads made into beautiful designs. 

Embroidered items can be simple in nature, working in only one color to create the design, to the use of thousands of strands of fine needlework made into all manner of items, from tea towels, pillow cases, curtains, to clothing and wall hangings.  Elaborate scenes can be created from using various threads integrated into the picture to create depth, shading and definition. Embroidery can also be abstract in design.

The embroidered works can be done by hand or by machine. 

The use of thread and fabric is yet another type of art form.  Art takes its shape from many mediums, like paint or sculpture.  Embroidery is another example of how beauty in art can be expressed using a different medium.

Here are a few books on embroidery that may interest you, whether you are trying to create your own embroidered artworks or are simply wishing to view embroidery masterpieces:

Work at Home Making Crafts for Cash! Click Here!

Art Trivia - Who was Antoine Etex?

Antoine (Tony) Etes was a French sculptor, painter and architect.  His two sculptures "Peace" and "War" stand at each side of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.  He was born in Paris in 1808 and died in 1888.  He is also famous for a large allegory painting "The Glory of the United States", which he painted for City Hall in New York City.  His best-known architectural works are the tomb of Naopoleon I in the Invalides and a monument of the 1848 revolution.

My Type of Art

As an artist, I am always experimenting with different art forms, although there are some types that I always come back to.  I guess it has to do with expanding my creative side.

Generally, I like to paint with acryllics, and my favorite subjects tend to be children.  I find beauty in simple scenes and the saint-like quality of children's faces.  I like to portray children from different eras as well.  I enjoy the old-fashioned type dress that children used to wear back then and find them a joy to paint.  I love little girls with big bows in their hair, boys in overalls, babyies in rompers--that kind of thing.  Here are a couple of examples:

You can buy this picture at:

http://www.imagekind.com/Girl-with-Bunny_art?IMID=32356a36-1b94-436c-ad12-60a555a7055f

You can buy this picture at:

http://www.imagekind.com/Girl-with-Big-Bow_art?IMID=c8785909-b822-4946-a75c-58ab7a4040dc




 
 
 
 

 
 
You can buy this picture at:


http://www.imagekind.com/Reading-Together_art?IMID=c9ecc25a-25b4-455d-ad99-d45f05c775a6



The pictures above are only one type of art that I like to do.  As I said, as a creative person, I delve into various other art subjects, like landscapes and scenery, or even rock scupture and my own jewelry designs.

For this blog, I just wanted to share some of my art with you.

Hope you like it!