Turkish artist visit department of art
Two artists show off ceramics skills to campus
The two artists came to Milledgeville from Anadolu University in Turkey where they create magnificent ceramics. Ceramics is the art of making and decorating pottery. Cemal forms the pottery itself on a wheel and Sibel delicately decorates the pieces. While each piece is unique in its own individual design, the exhibit is unified by the cultural ties and the influences that artists bring with them into the studio.
In the exhibit, plates, cups and vases are intricately decorated.
“My biggest influence is Anatolian civilization. First I draw, then I use some technology and apply it on the ceramic surface,” Sibel said. “My husband, Cemal, uses the wheel to create the pottery. Ceramic pottery is very important in Turkey because of religion.”
Bill Fisher, department chair of the art department, expressed that he was happy that GC received the opportunity to host the Sevim’s.
“One thing that is really important and is part of our mission as a public liberal arts university is to be able to see other cultures’ works, and that is an opportunity you are not always able to do,” said Bill Fisher, department chair of the art department.
Carlos Herrera, professor of museum studies and gallery coordinator, and a handful of students helped to physically put together the exhibit.
“They asked me if we could do the exhibit, I said ‘yes.’ I got a few museum studies students to help me and we created the exhibit,” Herrera said.
However, Sandra Trujillo, assistant professor of art and ceramics, was the one to bring about the idea and focus on these two talented artists. Trujillo allowed the Sevim’s to stay in her home while they were in the U.S. showing their art.
Many enthusiastic students visited the exhibit to learn and further their artistic knowledge. Some even bought art, which can be costly. “These are some of the most expensive pieces of pottery that you will ever get to see in your life,” Trujillo said about how well the art was created; some was even painted with gold.
Leah Wooddall, senior art major with a concentration in ceramics, had the opportunity to speak to the artists one-on-one and was also given the chance to take a workshop with them.
“I loved the exhibit because it exposed a different culture and perspective on ceramic art. The art pieces were simple and bold in form as well as extravagant and elegant in detail,” Woodall said. “Cemal and Sibel Sivem are excellent potters, teachers and mentors. They want to share their passion with the world. I have gained much experience, knowledge and application of the arts going to their lectures, demonstrations and exhibit.”
Marilyn Ferrell
Contributing Writer
Night of 100 Pots in Milledgeville studio
People of all ages came to Grassman Studio on Sept. 15 to try their hands at creating pottery with the ceramics class at GC in the Night of 100 Pots. This is an annual event for the Department of Art, and this year two guest artists lent their expertise to the event.
Professors Sibel and Cemal Sevim, both from the University of Anadolu, traveled from Turkey to share their work and educate Milledgeville on the art of ceramics and pottery.
“With art, people are all connected,” Sevim said. “From small children to adults, art is a form that brings people together.”
Night of 100 Pots was certainly an event full of diverse people. From a year-old baby to an elderly couple, everyone was making pottery and mingling with the artists.
“It is always fun to see teachers outside of class at an art event,” said Sierra Busch, a senior art major. “And the events are always open to the public.”
Creating pottery is a complicated and difficult process. After forming and molding the clay there are several firing and glazing processes needed in addition to decoration.
“Some projects can take up to 15 weeks,” Sevim said. “It depends because sometimes you want to move more quickly on a project and other times projects just take longer.”
The Sevims have been attending art classes every day since they arrived in Milledgeville Sept. 12, to talk to the art students.
“They gave four demos the other day and each had 60 students in attendance,” said Sandra Trujillo, assistant professor of art. “We are incredibly lucky to be able to learn from them and engage in an international relationship.”
Trujillo says she met the artists at a symposium in Turkey.
The Sevims planned the art symposium, which included artists from over 19 countries, and will be staying here for two weeks.
“Art is very important for connecting relationships,” Sibel Sevim said. “We have enjoyed being here and interacting with the students.”
While here, the artists are working on creating a permanent international exchange program between the University of Anadolu and Georgia College.
“We hope to create an exchange program where two Georgia College students go to Turkey and two Anadolu students come here,” Trujillo said.
The Sevims have only been at GC for one week and have already made an impact on the art students.
“It has been so interesting to get another person’s perspective and see how other people work,” said Leah Wooddall, a senior art major concentrating in ceramics.
The ceramic tiles will be decorated and sold at the Deep Roots Festival in October to benefit future artists coming to Milledgeville.
“It is always a struggle to build up the ceramics department,” Sibel Sevim said. “I am sure the Georgia College department will become more well-known because of this event.”
Julia Richardson
Contributing Writer
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