Kickstarter

The role of cultural artifacts is central to our understanding individual cultures - the breadth and depth of their histories. Over the course of the next several years, through my PhD studies and beyond, my intent is to document, both visually and textually, my experience investigating artifacts and their role in defining cultural heritage. Expansive and often conflicting definitions of charged cultural objects and locations will be central to my investigation.

There are several phases to my project, as currently proposed. In part one, my investigation focuses on areas of eastern Turkey that are primarily historically Armenian areas. This proposal focuses on this first part of my project, set to begin in late July 2010.

Part One: From the Monastery of the All Saviour (Amenaprgič Vank) in Trabzon, Turkey to Akdhamar Island, via Kars and Dogubeyazit (Mt. Ararat)

Locations include:
Trabzon, Cicekli, Ucpinar, Gezikoy, Pasinler, Cengilli, Tunckaya, Kumbetli, Kars, Akyaka, Horomos, Oguzlu, Ani, Bagnayr Monastery, Kars to Dogubeyazit, Akdhamar, Arter Island, Vaspurakan, Van and surroundings, Khatchkar Monuments at Por, Adilcevaz

Please visit my itinerary map for details on my route beginning in Trabzon, Turkey here:

http://bit.ly/byL3CL

My goal is to meld a cultural survey into a complex visual document with a level of technical acumen that has not yet been fully realized in presenting these assorted locations. Elements from the initial work will be used as supporting data for my thesis as well as a series of collaborative photography and related visual media exhibitions to be presented.

Your assistance will help me in paying for travel within Turkey in order to visit all of the sites listed above. In many cases I will be travelling in the footsteps of other researchers, continuing work that they have started. A good reference to review for research that has inspired my itinerary is work by Richard A. and Anne Elizabeth Elbrecht, available here:

http://armenianstudies2.csufresno.edu/research/churches/index.shtml

All backers will be provided with a signed print or photography book compiled from the first phase of this project (minimum contribution $5). See details on the right hand side of this page for backer reward details.

All images will be made using high resolution still cameras and gigapixel panoramas.

Thank you for your support.