Artifacts of a One-Man Tribe

I work with bamboo and other natural materials in creating one-of-a-kind objects that I refer to as artifacts of a one-man tribe.

A Fascination with Beauty and Abundance

I spent most of my childhood summers at my family's house on the Aegean coast in Turkey, where reeds (Arundo donax, giantgrass, or kargı in Turkish) grew in abundance along the shoreline. Planted many years ago by local farmers to protect the adjacent crops from the effects of sea-weather, they spread tall and wide, almost out of control, bordering the beach and the farmland.

I was always fascinated with their abundance, strength and versatility. I would spend hours cutting and trimming and whittling kargı for toys and countless other utilitarian purposes around the house.

This influence set the stage for later years at various places I lived and visited, where I continued working with the materials readily available around me, to create artifacts for self-expression and pure enjoyment of the shape, color and variety of the materials.

The ultimate pleasure lies within the many moments while working with the materials directly: gathering, cleaning, sorting, examining and handcrafting, which is when I experience the awareness of being part of the natural world.

Currently, I live in Waimanalo, Hawaiʻi, where the ʻāina provides materials of yet another dimension and magnitude.

Exhibits

Liberty House - Ku‘u Home Island Gifts, September 18, 2001. Personal Appearance.

Liberty House - Ku‘u Home Award, September 9 - 23, 2001.

Liberty House - Ku‘u Home Island Gifts, August 19, 2000. Personal Appearance.

Liberty House - Ku‘u Home Island Gifts, October 25, 1999 - December 5, 2001.

3rd Hale‘iwa Arts Festival, North Shore, Oahu, July 22 - 23, 2000.

Robyn Buntin of Honolulu - Oceania Gallery, Honolulu, July 22 - August 22, 1999.

2nd Hale‘iwa Arts Festival, North Shore, Oahu, July 17 - 18, 1999.

Recycle Art ’99, Honolulu Hale - Honolulu, Juror: Marcia Morse, April 22 - May 6, 1999.

1st Hale‘iwa Arts Festival, North Shore, Oahu, July 18-19, 1998.

Bamboo Art, PDX Gallery - Portland, Oregon, Curator: Anne F. Crumpacker, April 29 - May 24, 1997.

Recycle Art ’97, Honolulu Hale - Honolulu, Juror: Ira Ono, April 19 - May 8, 1997.

Spectrum ’96, Windward Artists Guild Juried Exhibition, Kaneohe, Juror: Charles Higa, September 1996.

Big Island Bamboo Conference, University Of Hawai‘i - Hilo, May 1996.

44th Cherry Blossom Festival, Bishop Museum - Honolulu, February 1996.