Quilting in Turkey
The Virtual Quilt- A Newsletter for Computing Quilters
Number 31, April 1, 1999
IN THIS ISSUE:
– Carol Miller on the MAQF
– The Patchwork Planet: Quilting in Turkey
– Quilt Show Review: Quilting by the Bay
– Book Reviews: Two Paper Piecing Books
– Quilter Profile: Iris Aycock
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THE PATCHWORK PLANET: Quilting in Turkey
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I’m continually surprised and pleased by the e-mail I get
from enthusiastic quilters in what might seem unlikely
places. I received one such message on Christmas day last
year from Gunsu Gungor (Günsu Güngör) in Ankara, Turkey, who asked me to
visit her website (http://members.xoom.com/gcpatchwork). She
proudly told me that her site had been designed and built by
her 12-year-old son, Cemre.
It turned out that her site was not just a personal quilt
page featuring her own work, but a business site for GC
Patchwork Studio, which Gunsu owns and operates in downtown
Ankara.
“I’m a business administration graduate of Bosphorous
University in Istanbul,” Gunsu says. “I moved to Ankara,
which is the capital city of Turkey, after I got married in
1983. I learned the basics of patchwork at that time from
friends. My hobby made me the patchwork teacher of the
Turkish American Association in 1991, and in 1995 I formed
my own studio. GC Patchwork Studio is situated at the center
of Ankara and I have around 100 students yearly. My students
come to the studio once every week for two hours. They
attend here for three-month periods and learn different
techniques. Some of my students attend my classes for four
or five years.”
Besides being a center for quilting education, the studio is
a vital nerve center for quilters in Turkey. Gunsu organizes
a show of the work of studio members’ work every year which
has high visibility in Turkey, including participation by
the Minister of Culture Istemihan Talay, who wrote the
introduction to the show’s catalogue. In it he said,
“Patchwork, which is made by joining the geometrical shapes
traditionally, has been introduced in this catalogue with
the modern interpretation of Gunsu Gungor (Günsu Güngör) Group. This
catalogue, which sets forth a different dimension of
cultural heritage . . . shall be a cultural torch that will
enlighten the future generations.” The show is always
covered by local newspapers and television.
Beyond their own local show, the group also participates in
international quilt exhibitions. “Last year we applied and
were chosen to represent our country at Quilt Show VI at
Innsbruck,” Gunsu says. “Two quilts and three vests (one
belongs to me) were chosen. . . .” Encouraged by their
success, Gunsu’s group decided to compete in the American
Quilters’ Society annual show in Paducah at the end of
April. Gunsu wrote me recently: “We are pleased to inform you
that we will be participating in the American Quilters’
Society 15th Show and Contest in Paducah next month. Two of
my students and myself will take part in the AQS/Hobbs
Bonded Fibers Fashion Show and two quilts from my students
will be exhibited at the quilt show. We will be in Paducah in
April.”
Turkey’s rich textile heritage is well-known around the
world, but not so well-recognized is that patchwork quilts
are a big part of it. In fact some Turkish quilt traditions
are remarkably similar to other parts of the world:
“Patchwork was in the past made in my country because of
necessity,” Gunsu says. “The people used to do these at the
villages, for example 40 patches. When a girl was preparing
for marriage she took 40 pieces of cloth from 40 happily
married couples and made a quilt for herself wishing that
she will be happily married. At old times they used to make
bed covers, praying mats (if they are not in a mosque people
pray to God on special mats), bundles, etc., using these
techniques. When making these the techniques they used
resembled the modern techniques we use these days.”
Gunsu owns one such prayer mat made by her grandmother
nearly a hundred years ago, and displays it on the wall in
her studio. “The puffs were filled with 100 percent cotton
that she grew, and the thread used was also made by her from
the cocoons she had,” Gunsu said.
As in most other countries with a quilting tradition, there
are local organizations of quilters. Besides Gunsu’s studio,
there is an organization for quilters in Istanbul. A number
of Gunsu’s students teach quilting around the country as
well. In spite of this, there is not the wide availability
of some quilting supplies that can be found elsewhere. Gunsu
is trying to remedy that: “We import and sell some patchwork
supplies ourselves because there are no shops round here
selling these.”
If the show catalogue is any indication, Turkish quilters
are among the most sophisticated in the world. Techniques
range from Hawaiian to Celtic knotwork to crazy quilting,
along with many variations on traditional patchwork.
Pictorial, paper-pieced, and contemporary quilts are also
prominent, and some of the wearables are truly stunning.
Among their other sophistications, Turkish quilters are
part of a highly wired culture. “The Internet is widespread
in Turkey,” Gunsu says. “It’s used at the houses and
businesses. Most of the companies have web pages and most of
the kids start learning about these at school at early ages.
As you know my web page is created by my 11-year-old son. . .
the computer technology is so huge everything that you hear
in the States is here in a couple of days.”
Beyond quilting as a hobby and as a business, Gunsu is
interested in another aspect of the craft, its spiritual and
psychological value. This is clear from the definition of
patchwork which is posted at her site:
“Patchwork is a combination of pieces of fabrics which are
cut according to the colour harmony and the design planned
before.
“Although forms vary depending on the countries and
cultures, it is a way to express one’s own self to the world
with the help of different fabrics. For us, patchwork is a
therapy through art. It teaches to get the utmost pleasure
of the process without aiming the results, making the person
patient, tolerant and more adaptable both to herself and
others.”