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PAINTING FOR MARMARA
Marmara İçin Boyama
In 2023, The Marmara Project hosted Painting for Marmara: Marmara İçin Boyama in Mudanya, in collaboration with Ocean Uprise.
Created as a community art event, the project invited local residents to paint their vision for the Marmara Sea on handmade clay plates crafted by Semiha’s Pottery Shop.
CLAY, COLOR AND COMMUNITY
A Ripple in Community Conservation
Organized in partnership with Semiha’s Pottery Shop and Galimi Çınarlı Derneği, the event brought together more than 30 community members to reflect on the sea through creativity, memory, and shared responsibility.
Each painted plate became a small expression of hope, concern, and care for the Marmara Sea, transforming art into a way of starting conversations about conservation.
STORIES FROM THE SEA
Süleyman Çamur
As part of the event, guest speaker Süleyman Çamur from Galimi Çınarlı Derneği shared valuable insight into the world of Marmara conservation. He spoke about his childhood on the Marmara Islands, his lifelong connection to the sea, and how he witnessed the Marmara begin to change over time.
With family spread across the coast, from the Islands to Çanakkale, Tekirdağ, Istanbul, and Bursa, his story reminded participants that the Marmara Sea connects many communities through memory, livelihood, and belonging.
Süleyman also spoke about the threat of pollution, the sea’s isolation from wider environmental conversations, and the importance of local action. His message encouraged participants to continue asking questions, sharing their opinions, raising awareness, and working together for the future of the sea.
AWARD WINNING EVENT
Painting a Vision
For The Marmara Project, Painting for Marmara was a major step forward. What began as an idea rooted in curiosity and concern became a real community initiative, shaped by the support of friends, family, partners, and local residents. The event showed how art can inspire action by giving people a personal way to imagine the future they want for the Marmara Sea.
The event was also recognized through Ocean Uprise, where Dahlia received an award for leading the event through their Youth Internship Program. More than an achievement, this recognition reflected the power of community-based conservation: small actions, when shared with care, can create ripples far beyond a single day.