Turkish Cruise~Course Testimonials

Neil's Testimonial

"What an incredible experience! My wife and I booked this trip - with no prior experience of sculpture and, to be honest, with a far greater interest in just enjoying a relaxing gulet cruise in the gorgeous Gocek region of Turkey. The gulet and the area both met our considerably high expectations, providing a luxury sailing experience in one of the world’s most beautiful locations... but Kate’s ability to deliver a fantastic course far exceeded our expectations. 

Not only was she able to take two complete novices and have us creating works of art in no time at all, but it was totally absorbing - and a great antidote to the pressures of modern living. 

As well as being educational, Kate expertly facilitated the bonding of the group and in no time at all we went from "mucking about with Plasticine" to singing, dancing, midnight swims ... and more ... (possibly aided as well by a glass of wine or two!) 

All in all it was a fantastic holiday with truly lovely people - where do I sign up for next years trip?"

Neil Emery                                                                            

Commercial Manager, Women’s Healthcare

Neil and Sally

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Jane's Testimonial

"For some of us, sitting on a beach for a week can be an uneventful trial; for others trailing around museums and historical sites can be too much of a good thing. So what a fantastic find this holiday was for me.  

Cruising around the islands of Turkey's turquoise coast on a beautiful boat, whilst learning ~ in a very relaxed fashion ~ how to sculpt. 

What could be better? 

Sitting atop under the awnings, a lovely breeze to make the heat enjoyable, with wonderful scenery all around.   Add to this, lazy afternoons after a delicious lunch, with the boat moored in beautiful inlets.  Here we could swim from the boat, paddle a canoe, windsurf or read a book on the deck.  

Evenings were a delight, with spontaneous music making and dancing, before retiring to our en suite cabins ~ or as I did on the last night, sleeping on deck under the stars. All utterly delightful "

Jane Geeson

Enamel Artist

Jane working on her seated figure

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Clare's Testimonial

"Thanks for organising such a fabulous trip!
The combination of sun, relaxation and sculpture - in between swims and reading - worked really well.  And the boat was lovely, with plenty of room for everyone to have their own space as well as sit around and chat together. The whole thing was both great fun and highly inspirational.

Can’t wait to do it all again!"

Clare Dunkley

Turkish Holiday Lets.  Restoration and Holiday Investment.

Clare helping Yilmaz

All details of this year's Couse/Cruise is on the website: http://www.katenewlyn.com/

Turkish Cruise-Course (a few pics ... more to come)

Our first workshop

Simple stylized figures, with drift wood to inspire, collected by us all from swims to the shore line.

Sculptures developing

drawing inspiration from the shape and texture of the drift-wood

Emma
and her "Lady of the Rock"

Silver Surfer - by Sri
Aluminium foil and wire

Figure Sculptures
by Neil, Hanna and Emma

Medallions
Inspiration for each of these images emerged from memorable incidents which occurred in each of the bays we visited.  Some humourous, some just beautiful, these delicate pieces will either be worn or used to create mobiles.   

The Gang
plus Captain Yusuf, at the back, and Deckhand/Steward, Ersoy centre left.

Ersoy and Yilmaz under sail 
~ literally ~

Shindig with the crew

Neil windsurfing

Sri bringing some flowers back from the shore



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All details of Courses are on the website: http://www.katenewlyn.com/

Lycian Tomb

LYCIAN TOMB

By Kate Newlyn ~ Turkey 2014

A tomb has fallen.

Earth-quaked, shattered,

Torn from bleeding rock,

It lies forgotten now

Silent in soft waters.

Lycian majesty

And all the hope

Of immortality

Dissolved.

A home for fish.

Buruda ve Shimdi,

Here and now.

Lest we forget.

  ~  ~  ~

The geology escapes me but the rock-face where the tomb had been was actually blood-red. 

(Information about the Course~Cruises in Turkey are on my website: http://www.katenewlyn.com/)

Kayakoy - A Ghost Town

Kayakoy - A Ghost Town

 By Kate Newlyn ~ Kayakoy ~ 2014

Hazy in the morning mists

A village sleeps.

Its secrets locked

In rust

And crumbling walls.

And dust on dust.

Terraced houses steep

Rise tall

And fall

Into the sleeping valley.

Nothing stirs.

Doorways open onto hollow rooms

And broken shutters gape now

Where the eyes once were.

Only the soft murmur of the bees

Disturbs the dreams

Of generations here.

The kaleidoscopic chaos of a woven town,

Sounds of laughter, gossiping and lies,

Of love's first kisses and of children's cries,

Of polished stones where goats and men once trod.

A vibrancy of intermingled tongues,

And dreams.

And Gods.

No colour here now though.

Stones bleached white as bone.

But in the barbed dry grasses,

As the hot winds blow,

There:

A splash of crimson,

Where the poppies grow.

~ ~ ~

Inspired by the amazing ghost town of Kayakoy in the southwest of Turkey, an ancient town formally populated by a happy mixture of Greeks and Turks.  Ravaged by the first world war and immediately afterwards decimated by Ataturk's enforced population exchange of Greeks for Turks.  Later battered by a series of earthquakes, this town stands as a monument to the ravages of man and nature.
The inspiration for this poem and a series of sculptures has been derived from its history as well as the beautifully written novel: "Birds Without Wings" by Loius de Benieres.  I dedicate it to the people of Kayakoy, past and present.

Tribute To the Dispossessed  by K. Newlyn 2013
photographed in the old Greek chapel at the top of Kayakoy's Ghost town.

~ ~ ~


Images of the other sculptures can be found on my website: http://www.katenewlyn.com/ 

As well as info on the Sculpture Course~Cruises

Turkey - 2013

Inspirational country ... Inspirational people

Account of the trip to follow ... just had to share this photo for now

For information on Sculpture Course/Cruises held in Turkey go to: http://www.katenewlyn.com/