Last Tuesday we took a direct flight from Moscow to Istanbul, Turkey. Upon arrival we made our way by public transport to Cam Ogaci/ The glass furnace.

When we reached Cam Ogaci / The glass furnace the security people gave us a warm welcome and showed us to our room on campus where we will be staying. The rooms are very nice with up to four beds, spacious and with marble tiled shower rooms. The next morning we went on a little tour of our surroundings. Everything that you need to make glass is here: a workshop, cold shop for the factory’s production, cold shop for the students, a glass blowing studio, a studio for sheet glass work and also one for making moulds. There is a canteen for staff and students, where they cook delicious meals three times a day, along with a pool in the garden, basketball court and table tennis tables. The whole campus is situated by a little river that flows into the Black Sea about 20 km further. Yilmaz, the owner, set up the entire complex about 12 years ago and started inviting artists from all around the world for public exhibitions and summer courses. He’s a lover of glass, has travelled extensively and has also tried his hand at glass making. As he was struggling a little with this, he decided to support and further the art of glass making in Turkey in different ways.

On the site of Cam Ogaci / The Glass Furnace there used to be a glass factory. Now, along with their own production they offer classes for children and beginners, as well as 1-2 week summer courses, which are taught by artists from around the world. All over the site and in every corner of the building, artists and visitors have left their work and it’s interesting to see where they have come from.  Yilmaz’s collection of international glass art has no limit. Simply amazing.

A few days ago, Hajo Mück arrived from Germany. He is an old friend of Yilmaz and shares his passion for glass. We had a lot of fun with him and had some interesting conversations about economics, culture and glass.

The atmosphere around the whole place is really friendly and relaxed. And so we are enjoying our final days of the Weiberwalz.