May 29th, 2017

Fantastic opening at O’Art Gallery, Istanbul! The love affair with Turkey continues!

Curator Coşar Kulaksız at the opening on May 16, 2017.

I was sorry not to be able to go to the opening reception for Harold Feinstein: The Legacy of a Photographer, a magnificent retrospective, which opened on May 16th at O’Art, the corporate art space for Odea Bank in Istanbul. It was a beautifully presented 50 print show covering multiple facets of Harold’s black and white and color portfolios curated by Coşar Kulaksız, who also curates for Foto Istanbul.

The roots of this exhibition read something like a fairytale. While vacationing in the village of Grimaud (Provence) last fall with my two sisters, we enjoyed a dinner at L’ecurie de la Marquise, a lovely and lively little restaurant on one of the charming narrow, cobblestoned streets. After our meal, we were invited by Didier, the owner, for an after-dinner limoncello upstairs in a small cave-like room above the main restaurant. There we met two fellow travelers, Isil Oruk and Luc Scherrer. Upon learning that the couple live alternately in Istanbul and Cannes, I recounted the now mythic tale of Harold’s collaboration with Acik Radyo in 2013, which resulted un international advertising awards for the Music of the People campaign featuring Harold’s Boardwalk Sheet Music montage as the centerpiece of the campaign. The partnership resulted in a love affair between Harold and a growing fan base in Turkey. (See links below for that story.)

My friend, Isil Oruk, the senior manager for marketing and corporate communications at Odeabank, who is responsible for making this exhibition happen. Thank you Isil.

At the front door of the reception getting ready for the crowd.

After a round of email follow-ups, I heard from Isil, who is the senior manager of marketing and corporate communications for Odea Bank in Istanbul, that the bank was interested in mounting an exhibition of Harold’s work in it’s premier gallery space, O’Art Gallery.

Working with Cosar, Isil and their entire team has been a wonderful experience resulting in a beautifully curated and mounted exhibition. The great chemistry between Harold’s work and the people in Turkey continues! What an extraordinary partnership! I only wish I could transport myself there. I know how thrilled Harold would be.

Here’s a four minute video from the event produced by Odeabank. More photos below.