Los Angeles- Istanbul Connection

For Immediate Release

18th Street Arts Center Project Room
1629 18th Street. Santa Monica, CA 90404
Contact: Amber Jones
310-453-3711 Ext 108
[email protected]

project site: http://losangelesistanbul.weebly.com/

“Los Angeles- Istanbul Connection”

May 7-30, 2011

Opening reception: Saturday, May 7th, 6-9pm

Artists: Insel Inal Saliha Kasap, Elif Oner, Ozan Oganer, Alper Sen

Carol Es, Gul & Arzu, Marcie Kaufman, Blair Townsend

Curated by: Arzu Arda Kosar & Saliha Kasap

“Los Angeles- Istanbul Connection” features work by five Turkish and five Los Angeles artists at the 18th Street Arts Center Project Room, May 7-30, 2011. The exhibition includes paintings, sculptures, photography, video and installations by Los Angeles based artists Carol Es, Gul Cagin, Marcie Kaufman, Arzu Arda Kosar, and Blair Townsend along with Istanbul based artists Insel Inal, Saliha Kasap, Elif Oner, Ozan Oganer and Alper Sen, The opening reception will take place on May 7th, 6-9pm.

The exhibition is a curatorial collaboration between Saliha Kasap, the Istanbul based artist and coordinator of Sanat Limani (aka Antrepo 5) in Istanbul, Turkey, and Arzu Arda Kosar, a resident artist at the 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica, CA.

Inspired by the myriad of similarities between Istanbul and Los Angeles art worlds, both of which boast increasingly vibrant art scenes that may lack an art market akin to Europe or New York but counter balance it with the experimental and exciting work created in the absence of it, Kasap and Kosar curated a show that brings together artists from Istanbul, Turkey and Los Angeles at the 18th Street Arts Center.

For “Los Angeles-Istanbul Connection” Kasap selected works by five contemporary Turkish artists currently emerging in the ever more compelling contemporary art scene in Istanbul. Kosar juxtaposed these works with five local counterparts who work in a similar vein. As Alper Sen’s video documentary on discarded material is in dialogue with Blair Townsend’s rug made of superfluous plastic toys, Ozan Oganer’s lace sculpture corresponds with Carol Es’ work that incorporates elements of sewing. Insel Inal’s socially engaged photo series share common threads with the collaborative work Gul & Arzu. Saliha Kasap’s insect-like cityscape photo collages relate to Marcie Kaufman’s disorienting industrial images, and Elif Oner’s videos depicting dreamlike, mystical, timeless spaces corresponds with land art by Australian artist Andrew Rogers whose work is concurrently on display at the main gallery.

For more information on “Los Angeles- Istanbul Connection” please contact Arzu Arda Kosar at [email protected] or or visit http://losangelesistanbul.weebly.com/

www.arzuardakosar.org
http://losangelesistanbul.weebly.com/

Arzu’s upcoming events:

April 2, 2-5pm For the Birds @ Audubon Center at Debs Park

May 7, 6-9pm Los Angeles Istanbul Connection @ 18th Street Arts Center

May 15, 2-4pm Reflections@ Angels Gate Cultural Center

June 18, 6-9pm Yarn Bombing 18th @ 18th Street Arts Center