With Little Fanfare, Nişantaşı Art Park Goes Up

It’s great to see that Istanbul, the 2010 cultural capital of Europe, making an effort to distinguish its few greenspaces. This little park is a connector to the park I normally run in. I was surprised one day last week — while zipping through in my wicking running pants — to see city workers putting up odd plaster benches and behemoth sculptures one afternoon. No fuss, no ceremony that I am aware of. The benches steal the show…have a stroll, Istanbullus!
(Read below the pics for more details on the park)

They must have captured my likeness.

Interesting use of the bamboo to create an aural cover for sitters.

The Poltergeist Seat

What up, dogg? Someone already ripped off the screen of the laptop.

Pulitzer reporting from the English edition of Hurriyet, the largest Turkish daily:

“Sometimes people are too busy with work, commuting and meeting with friends to find time to visit museums. That’s why a newly opened art park brings the art to the people.

Formerly called Cumhuriyet Park (Republic Park), the Nişantaşı Art Park opened to visitors last weekend. Şişli Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül was one of the proud participants in the opening ceremony of the project, which aims to raise awareness about the environment through the creativity of artists.

The park, which holds nearly 50 art pieces designed by 30 artists, will host cultural and art activities for three years. The art park can be entered from Vali Konağı Avenue, next to the Military Museum and from Maçka.

The project is expected to end in 2012.”

And now…bonus pictures of cute cats! My roommate Ali adopted a small family, a mom and two kittens, so that brings us to 6 residents! Name suggestions welcome. Affiyet Olsun! (bon apetit!)

"Ali" cats. Ha ha.