evon gokturk “a life’s work” -...
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Evon Gokturk“A Life’s Work”
a celebration of the life & artistry of a memphis belle
circuitous succession gallerymemphis, tennesseedecember 4, 2016
curated by jason miller
We love you,Mom.
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Corrie Evon Gokturk wasborn November 20, 1938,to Durward L. Simmons, Sr.
and Corrie Selena Simmons inGermantown, Tennessee. Hermother, a champion archer, diedin 1944 when Evon was only 5.Her father remarried Mary AlleyMegel soon after. Evon grew up inGermantown with her twinbrother, Durward, and siblingsLynn, Bill and Cathy. She grad -uated from Mabel C. Williams(Germantown) High School in1956. While in high school, Evonwon two National Science Fairs. In 1956, at age 17, shewon for a science project titled “Three-DimensionalPeriodic Chart.” After graduating high school, Evonattended the University of Knoxville where she met Dr. Turgut K. Gokturk while Evon was studying to be amedical technician. In 1958, at age 20, she left theUnited States to marry Turgut in Turkey. They had twodaughters, Angela Nuran and Diana Nevin while livingin Turkey. Evon also was stepmother to Turgut’s firstdaughter, Ferda. Evon learned how to speak Turkish andhow to prepare Turkish cuisine, very quickly adapting tolife in a foreign country. They all survived several earth -quakes while living in Ankara. The family came back to the US in1963, settling first in Richmond,Virginia where Dr. Gokturk practicedmedicine and where daughter, AylaMaria, was born. In 1966, theGokturks returned to Evon’s hometown, Memphis, and the fourth child,son Selim Kemal, was born. Evon’spaintings date from the 1960’s topresent. The large English Tudorfamily home at 2335 Massey Road in East Memphis became a showplace for gourmetdinner parties, oriental carpets, and Evon’s paintings.The couple divorced in 1980. Evon kept the Massey house which became a mecca ofsorts for local Memphis artists, poets and musicians to gather, including Charlie Miller,Dan Spector, Jim Collins, Dan Zarnstorff, Michael Pulliam and others. Evon went backto school and became an RN, reaching the position of head nurse at St. Francis HospitalEast. In 1985, she downsized from the Massey house to a townhouse in Cordova. Shenever stopped creating her art works. When her hands became severely compromisedby illness in 2009, her painting style underwent a significant change. Although herhealth deteriorated, she continues to paint.Evon’s Memphis ties:Evon’s father was the architect for the home which later became Elvis Presley’s Graceland. She'd play on thegrounds of the estate when she was a little girl. Her father also designed the Germantown Charity HorseshowArena and the Big Shoe. Evon’s brother was a Germantown police officer. Her ex-husband was a prominentanesthesiologist, practicing predominantly at Methodist Hospital. Evon’s oldest daughter worked for Mayor WyethChandler and for The Commercial Appeal newspaper. All her children attended either Memphis State Universityor Christian Brothers College.
Hadimkoy house floorplan
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3. RED & YELLOW FLOWERS 1966 - 1986 oil on canvas board • 12" x 16" 800
4. PEAR MARTINI II 2014 oil on canvas • 10" x 8" collection of Frank Hackerman
5. CONTEMPLATION 1966 - 1986 pencil on paper • 7" x 5" collection of Nevin Gokturk
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1. BLUE DAY 2012 oil on canvas • 11" x 14" 800
2. RED FLOWERS WITH FRUIT II 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 11" x 14" 800
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8. GREEN APPLES 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 12" x 12" 800
9. CHEERY CHERRIES II 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 16" x 20" 1200
10. PARROTS 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 11" x 14" 800
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6. GERBERA DAISIES 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas 20" x 16" 1200
7. COOL DAY AT THE BEACH 2012 oil on canvas • 16" x 20" 1200
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13. CANOES 2014 - 2015 oil on canvas • 18" x 24" 1200
14. SUNNY AFTERNOON IN THE PARK 2012 oil on canvas • 22" x 28" 1200
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11. ASIAN INFLUENCE 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 14" x 11" 800
12. GARDEN MEDLEY 2014 - 2015 oil on canvas 12" x 12" 600
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17. PINK CLIFFS 2014 oil on canvas • 16" x 20" 1200
18. PINK CLIFFS II 2014 oil on canvas • 16" x 20" 1200
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15. FIERY SKIES 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 16" x 20" 1200
16. SUNRISE SUNSET 2014 oil on canvas • 22" x 28" 2500
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21. PURPLE MIST 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 20" x 30" 2500
22. CHARLIE MILLER UNFINISHED circa 1980 oil on canvas 24" x 20" collection of Angela Nuran Gokturk
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19. RED FLOWERS WITH FRUIT 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 16" x 20" 1200
20. SUMMER IN THE MOUNTAINS 2012 oil on canvas • 22" x 28" 2500
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25. BALLROOM JAZZ LOUNGE 2015 oil on canvas • 24" x 36" • collection of Angela Nuran Gokturk
26. GIRL ON A TRAIN 2014 - 2015 oil on canvas • 30" x 40" • collection of Angela Nuran Gokturk
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23. CELTIC WOMAN 2014 - 2015 oil on canvas 30" x 20" 2500
24. JAZZ QUARTET 2015 oil on canvas 16" x 20" collection of Kemal Gokturk
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29. CHEERY CHERRIES 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 16" x 20" 1200
30. BLOSSOMS IN REPOSE 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas 20" x 16" 1200
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27. WOMAN IN YELLOW 2014 - 2015 oil on canvas • 24" x 12" 1200
28. LITTLE RED BOOK 2012 oil on canvas • 16" x 20" 1200
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33. DAISIES 2014 oil on canvas • 14" x 11" 800
34. NECTAR 2012 oil on canvas • 10" x 8" collection of Angela Nuran Gokturk
35. PEAR MARTINI 2014 oil on canvas • 14" x 11" collection of Frank Hackerman
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31. POOL OF CLEAR WATER 2012 • oil on canvas • 24" x 18" 1600
32. DAYLILIES 1966 - 1986 oil on canvas board 16" x 12" collection of Nevin Gokturk
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38. WINTER BLUSH 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 18" x 24" 1600
39. SPRINGTIME IN WINTER 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 12" x 12" 600
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36. ON THE MISSISSIPPI 2012 - 2014 • oil on canvas • 20" x 30" 1600
37. WINTER CABIN II 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas 28" x 22" 1800
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40. MOUNTAIN MAJESTY 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 16" x 20" 1200
41. WINTER PEAKS 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 16" x 20" 1200
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42. EVERGREEN 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 10" x 8" 400
43. CARDINAL IN THE PARK 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 11" x 14" 800
44. CHICKADEES 2014 - 2015 oil on canvas 12" x 12" 600
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47. YOSEMITE 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 20" x 16" 1200
48. KOI POND 2014 - 2015 oil on canvas • 12" x 24" 800
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45. WINTER CABIN 2012 - 2014 oil on Arches Huile 300 g/m • 21" x 17" 1800
46. BLUE LAKE 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 22" x 28" 1800
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51. FWOGGIE AT THE WINDOW 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 20" x 16" 1200
54. BOUQUET WITH HORSIE 2012 oil on canvas • 12" x 12" 600
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49. QUIET WATER 2012 - 2014 oil on canvas • 22" x 28" 1800
50. KOI 2014 - 2015 oil on canvas • 9" x 12" 400
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52. QUIET AFTERNOON 1966 - 1986 oil on canvas • 11" x 14" collection of Cathy Simmons
53. MORNING IN THE EAST 1966 - 1986 oil on canvas • 11" x 14" collection of Ayla Gokturk
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55. PEAR 2014 oil on canvas • 11" x 14" 800
56. ORANGE BRANCH 2014 oil on canvas • 11" x 14" 800
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57. JUN KANEKO 2015 oil on canvas • 16" x 20" collection of Nevin Gokturk
58. SATURDAY MORNING 1966 - 1986 oil on canvas 20" x 16" collection of Cathy Simmons
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59. CAROUSEL 2014 - 2015 oil on canvas • 14" x 11" 600
60. BRASS TEAPOT 1966 - 1986 oil on canvas 16" x 12" collection of Nevin Gokturk
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63. NESSIE 2012 • oil on canvas • 20" x 30" 1600
64. LEVITT SHELL 2012 - 2014 • oil on canvas • 18" x 24" 2500
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61. WINE AND GRAPES 1966 - 1986 oil on canvas board • 9" x 12" collection of Nevin Gokturk
62. WILD FLOWERS 1966 - 1986 oil on canvas 12" x 9" collection of Nevin Gokturk
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65. NURAN AND FRIENDS 2012 oil on canvas • 40" x 30" collection of Angela Nuran Gokturk
Hadimkoy house floorplan