News & Events

A Day in the Village

March 2, 2010

While touring Turkey to celebrate “African American Days,”  the Sharon Clark Quintet, Turkish jazz artist Melis Sokmen and American artist Leroy Campbell took time to visit the Afro-Turk village of Haskoy, located near Izmir, for an afternoon of sharing good food and great jazz.  In this video segment, Sharon Clark and Melis Sokmen perform a couple of jazz classics and Skip Gailes (keyboardist and incoming Fulbright scholar in Jazz at Hacettepe University), Lyle Link (saxophone), Matthew Hall (bass) with Emre Kartari (drums) share their music in the bright Turkish sunshine.  Melis Sokmen concludes with some thoughts on what the tour accomplished while American artist Leroy Campbell looks on.

>> Watch

>> Photo Gallery

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In the Village : Art

March 2, 2010

While visiting Haskoy village during the U.S. Mission’s “African American Days” in Turkey tour, American Artist Leroy Campbell pauses to talk about his work and why art exchanges are an important way to increase mutual understanding between cultures.

>>  Video

Jazz Concert

Jazz Artists Sharon Clark and Melis Sökmen Sing the Classics in Ankara, Konya and Izmir

February 16, 2010

In tribute to the ‘great ladies of jazz,’ the American Sharon Clark Quintet will join Turkish jazz legend Melis Sökmen in concerts beginning February 24 as part of the US Embassy's "African American Art Days" in Turkey.  In free concerts in Ankara, Konya and Izmir, the two singers will showcase jazz classics made famous by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday and Nina Simone -- “the way jazz was meant to sound – full of depth, emotion, joy, sorrow and amazing talent.” 

A vibrant exhibit "Gullah Art" by Afro-American artist Leroy Campbell that reflects the richness of the African-American experience in South Carolina will accompany the performances in most cities.

The concerts and art exhibits are free and open to the public.  Performances are scheduled in Konya on February 24 at Selcuk University’s Suleyman Demirel Cultural Center (at 19:30); in Ankara on February 26 at the Turkish-American Association (at 20:00); and in Izmir on March 3 at the Turkish-American Association (at 20:00). The Sharon Clark Quintet and Melis Sökmen will also visit Izmir-area villages on March 2.

The free "Gullah Art" exhibit opens in Ankara on February 26 at the Turkish-American Association (at 18:30); and in Izmir on March 3 at the Turkish-American Association (at 18:30).

For further information contact:  Gozde Dogan, US Embassy Cultural Section, (312) 457-7320.

Student Workshop on Energy Issues

Izmir University of Economics
February 19-20, 2010

Students from several Turkish Universities organized a workshop on energy issues from February 19-20, 2010 in Izmir.  Hosted by the Izmir University of Economics, and co-sponsored by Middle East Technical University, Bilkent University, Istanbul Technical University, Marmara University and Adnan Menderes University, the student led workshop focused on energy issues in today’s economy.  The Rector of the Izmir University of Economics, several Vice Rectors and Professors, as well as Volkan Ediger (former Energy Advisor to the President Gul ) made presentations at the two day workshop.  Economic Officer Sara Litke from the US Embassy in Ankara also gave a presentation entitled “Global Energy Markets After the Credit Crunch Period”.   Ms. Litke’s presentation focused on how the global crisis effected energy markets and emphasized the importance that energy issues will play in ensuring future economic growth.

 

Best Buy Opening in Izmir

Best Buy Opening in Izmir

Just in time for New Years, Best Buy will open it’s first European store on December 19th, 2009 in Izmir. The Grand Opening will occur at 10:30 A.M.   Already present in the United States, Canada, China, Mexico and the United Kingdom, Best Buy plans to open three stores in Turkey within the next year.  Best Buy will open stores in Ankara and Bursa in 2010.  For more information, visit http://www.bestbuy.com.tr/.

Art Exhibition - Jno Didrickson

Art Exhibition - Jno Didrickson

During 8-22 December 2009, Soyer Culture and Art Factory will be hosting U.S. Embassy-sponsored exhibit of Native American art by Jno Didrickson. The exhibit features Pacific Northwest Coast wood carvings, metalwork, and beadwork made by Mr. Didrickson, who is an Alaskan Tlingit artist. Also featured is a photo exhibition depicting Alaska’s wildlife and natural beauty,  and a documentary film called         “ Creations from a Raven’s tale” about the artist’s work and the Tlingit culture.

Besides the exhibition there will be a talk by Mr. Didrickson titled “ The nature and culture of Southeast Alaska”  which will take place at İzmir Turkish American Association on 17th December, 2009. More information on Mr. Didrickson’s art as well as the Tlingit culture can be found at the artist’s webpage: www.jnodidrickson.com.

Jno Didrickson was born in Juneau, Alaska in 1975. He is a Tlingit of his mother’s clan, the Luk’naxadi (Raven-Coho). His father is of the Deisheetan (Raven-Beaver) clan. His interest in native artwork began at a very early age. Jno is a self-taught wood carver having watched his aunt and other master carvers practice their craft. He strives for a traditional look to his original designs by studying older designs. Since 2001 he has lived in Turkey. This exhibition, sponsored by the Embassy of the United States of America, is his second.

Pacific Northwest Coast Native Artwork is highly recognized and found in museums worldwide. Often refered to as Totemic art, it has been around since before the first explorers came to Alaska in the 1700’s. Contrary to popular belief totemic art was only found amongst the Native peoples of the Pacific Northwest such as Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribes.

Metal tools and modern paint has not changed the artwork from its original form, it has only increased and refined the amount of artwork done until the 19th century.  Religious and social beliefs during the late 1800’s and into the early 1900’s constrained the artform until recently.  Today there is a reawakening to the traditional ways of the native peoples and a return to the artwork.

Much of the work depicts some sort of animal or mythical creature that was often used as a crest of family and clan and almost everything was decorated as such from totem poles to everyday items such as bowls and spoons.

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USS Bataan visits Izmir!

USS Bataan visits Izmir!

The USS Bataan is on a four day visit to Izmir from November 15-18, 2009. This is the last port visit of the ship’s seven month deployment to South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. More than 2000 sailors, marines and crew have enjoyed the four day respite in Izmir and the surrounding area before they journey back to the United States. Bataan was the first Navy ship on scene in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, a category-4 hurricane, made landfall. The ship spent 19 days supporting the relief efforts by moving more than 1,600 people to safety and delivering more than 160,000 pounds of supplies to the Gulf Coast of the United States. Bataan’s medical capabilities are second only to U.S. Navy hospital ships and include nearly 50 medical professionals as well as X-ray facilities, a 600-bed hospital, operating rooms, an intensive care unit, pharmacy, and laboratory. For more information on the ship, please visit http://www.bataan.navy.mil. 

• Travel Notes
• Photo Gallery
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FedEx Trade Mission Visits Izmir

FedEx Trade Mission Visits Izmir

On November 13, the FedEx Turkey Trade Mission visited Izmir.  Approximately 25 Izmir based companies met with the US companies to discuss potential business partnerships.  Participating companies initially were introduced to the local Izmir business environment by business leader Ali Nail Kubalı.  Delegates later visited the Aegean Free Trade Zone, and attended matchmaking meetings with Izmir companies.  The trade mission ended with a tour of the Bay of Izmir hosted by Captain Altay Altuğ, and a dinner at a Konak Pier restaurant with the local Turkish American Business Association chapter.   Prior to arriving in Izmir, the FedEx Turkey Trade Mission visited Istanbul and Ankara from November 9-12.

Walter Russell Mead on U.S. Foreign Policy at the Izmir University of Economics

Walter Russell Mead lectured on U.S. foreign policy in the first year of the Obama Administration at the Izmir University of Economics on November 20, 2009.  Mr. Mead explained the four tenets that form the ideological basis of US foreign policy, tenets established by successive generations of American intellectuals including Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Andrew Jackson and Woodrow Wilson.  Mr. Mead cited Thomas Jefferson’s political and foreign policy philosophies as the basis for President Obama’s views, and described U.S. foreign policy in the first year of President Obama’s Administration.  Mr. Mead is the Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow for US foreign policy at the Council on Foreign Relations and has authored numerous books on U.S. Foreign Policy.

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Embassy DCM Douglas Silliman Visited Izmir

Douglas Silliman, the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the US Embassy in Ankara, visited Izmir from October 13-14, 2009.  DCM Silliman arrived in Izmir three months following Ambassador James Jeffrey’s visit to the city to inaugurate the US Embassy’s Virtual Presence Post (VPP) website.  During his visit, The DCM focused on three key areas: 1) increasing trade and investment between Turkey and the US in the Izmir area; 2) announcing the appointment of Vice Consul Christiaan De Luigi as the US Embassy’s Izmir City Officer; and, 3) promoting the use of the Embassy’s VPP website to American and Turkish officials.

The primary focus of DCM Silliman’s trip was to promote increased trade and investment between Turkey and the United States in the Izmir region.  During his meetings, the DCM reminded Turkish and American officials of the promise that US President Barrack Obama and Turkey President Abdullah Gül made to each other at their meeting in April 2009 to increase bilateral trade and investment between their respective countries.  In the furtherance of that end, the DCM visited ESBAŞ (The Aegean Free Trade Zone), the Izmir Chamber of Commerce, the US Foreign Commercial Service Office in Izmir, the Aegean Chamber of Industry and the Turkish American Business Association.  DCM Silliman used these meetings to brainstorm ways to increase bilateral trade and investment, and to encourage companies and trade associations to share best practices with one another.

In addition to meetings with business leaders, DCM Silliman also met with the Mayor of Izmir, a Vice-Governor, the British Consul, representatives from the Izmir Chapter of the Turkish American Association, and the US Consular Agent in Izmir.  During these meetings, the DCM stressed the US Government’s longstanding and continued engagement in Izmir.  DCM Silliman was accompanied by Vice Consul Christiaan De Luigi, and he announced the appointment of Mr. De Luigi as the US Embassy’s City Officer assigned to Izmir.  He also encouraged officials to utilize the Embassy’s VPP website (IZMIR.USVPP.GOV) as a tool for engaging the United States, learning about Embassy sponsored events in Izmir, and promoting enhanced business and cultural ties between the United States and Turkey.

At the conclusion of his trip, DCM Silliman visited the Izmir University of Economics.  The DCM met with the University Rector, as well as student and faculty leaders to discuss the United States Embassy’s American Corner.  The American Corner is jointly maintained by the Embassy and the University and serves as a portal through which University students can learn more about United States education, history and culture.  The DCM concluded his visit with a speech to University students and faculty entitled “US Foreign Policy in the Obama Administration”.

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US Foreign Policy in the Obama Administration

Douglas Silliman gave a speech about about “US Foreign Policy in the Obama Administration”

October 14, 2009

Douglas Silliman, the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the US Embassy in Ankara, gave a speech entitled “US Foreign Policy in the Obama Administration” at the Izmir University of Economics on October 14, 2009.  DCM Silliman noted the recent decision to award President Obama the Nobel Peace Prize, crediting the award to President Obama’s ability to inspire hope for a better future in the world.  DCM Silliman also explained the four pillars of President Obama’s foreign policy agenda: advocate nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, promote peace and security, preserve our planet, and create a global economy that advances opportunity for all people.  Following his twenty minute speech, DCM Silliman answered questions from the audience comprised of more than 100 students and faculty from the University community.

• Remarks by Doug Silliman

• Photo Gallery

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“Education in USA” Presentation – Q&A

Date: October 2, 2009

Time: 16:00 – 16:45

Location: Izmir University of Economics - Room: M201

A presentation on “Education in USA”  at Izmir University of Economics on October 2, 2009

 

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An Introduction to Feminism and Theory in Turkey’s Women’s Rights Movement

Date: May 12, 2009

Location: American Corner, Izmir

Izmir American Corner has organized a very interesting program at Izmir University of Economics on May, 12th by Fulbright researcher Catherine Jaffee. Some faculty members and students participated the program.

 

The audience was interested with the topic and asked many interesting questions, therefore it has been a sophisticated and fruitful discussion. They all informed on women movements both in Turkey and all over the world. After the program faculty members have taken the speaker to a panel in Aegean Region Chamber of Industry organized by Izmir Business Women Association. It was very useful for the speaker to contact with the Association members for future cooperation.

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US Constitutional Law & Free Speech and Equal Protection

Date: April 20, 2009

Location: American Corner, Izmir

Corey Stoughton, a Fulbright research fellow gave a lecture about U.S. Legal System at the American Corner on April 20, 2009. 

The participants were interested in learning more about the legal practices in the U.S. and especially the students asked many interesting questions. Numerous publications on the U.S. Legal System were also distributed to the participants.

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Prof. Jonathan Adelman: Security Challenges Facing American Foreign Policy

Date: March 18, 2009

Location: Izmir American Corner

Prof. Jonathan Adelman from Denver University made a class lecture entitled "Security Challenges Facing American Foreign Policy" at Izmir University of Economy on 18th March, 2009.

The audience was composed of students and academicians from International Relations Department including the department head. The lecture was very interesting and attracted the audience with regard to examining the relationship between security challenges and the democracy especially in the Middle East. Also putting forth the correlation between the level of development of a country and democracy was thought provoking for the audience.