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Happenings in the Keweenaw Peninsula August 7, 2003 Text © 2003 Turquoise Gallery Press Release. Photos © 2003 Keweenaw Now.

"Dream of Water" exhibit to open Aug. 8 at Turquoise Gallery 

HANCOCK -- "The Dream of Water," an exhibit of ''Ebru'' (Marbling), by Turkish artist Hikmet Barutcugil, will be featured Aug. 8 to Sept. 8 at the Turquoise Art Gallery in Hancock.

A reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, opens the exhibit. Refreshments will be served in the bright, spacious new gallery, located in Suite 305, E. L. Wright Building, 801 N. Lincoln Drive (U.S. 41 in Hancock).

"Ebru," or Marbling, is a tasteful and mysterious art known to have started several centuries ago in Asia Minor. The Turks brought this art from Asia to Anatolia. Developed by the Ottomans during the Middle Ages, it became popular in Europe (especially in Italy) in the 17th century under the name ''Turkish Paper."

This is an example of a traditional "Ebru" design by Turkish artist Hikmet Barutcugil. His work is on exhibit at the Turquoise Gallery from Aug. 8 to Sept. 8, with an opening reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

"It is a kind of paper decoration and is called 'water surface painting,''' said Serpil Narmanli -- who works with her husband, Haluk Narmanli, and her sister, artist Sevil Soyer, at the Turquoise Gallery.

Soyer noted the principal materials in marbling are: a basin, gum tragacanth, dye, gall, comb and brushes. Traditionally, mineral pigments have been  used as dye in marbling. The key material in the process is gall. This liquid holds the secret to successful marbling. Gall is a surface-active substance and forms a surface tension. Dyes without gall will sink to the bottom of the tray, she explained.

"Gall serves as a kind of glue," Soyer said. "It prevents the colors from mixing with each other, too."

The oldest pattern of marbling is Turkish Stone Marbling. This is the mother pattern, all other patterns are derived from this design. The other patterns are sprayed, come and go, shawl, comb, nightingale's nest, fishbone, light, stenciled, script, orator and flowery ( a style developed by the late Turkish Ebru master Necmeddin Okyay and known by his name).

This is an example of a more modern design of "Ebru," or marbling, by Hikmet Barutcugil. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

Turkish artist Hikmet Barutcugil is one of the masters of "Ebru" art. He has dedicated his life to teaching this difficult art and has been promoting marbling around the world, in both East and West. Barutcugil has 46 exhibitions, 63 conferences and seminars in different countries, including England, Spain, U.S.A., Germany, Pakistan, Switzerland, Denmark, Egypt, Sweden, India, Canada, Puerto Rico and Austria. He also exhibits his works in The British Museum.

The exhibit and the reception are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information call 487-5515 or email turquoiseart@pasty.com.

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