DAA’da Bahar

A spring evening of connection and creation

On May 31st, under the scent of pine trees and the soft light of early summer, we came together at DAA Art Residency for a special evening; DAA’da Bahar.

It was more than a celebration of the season; it was a moment to pause, to share, and to imagine what is possible when people meet around art, nature, and generosity.

With the support of Chefs Collective, the evening unfolded gently — a gathering of friends, artists, and supporters who believe, like we do, that creativity flourishes through community.

Chefs Collective - Fehmi Samancı, Hilal Tayfun, Volkan Akdamar

Guests met our resident artists, heard stories of their practices, and glimpsed the evolving path of DAA — a place that continues to grow through collective imagination.
As conversations flowed and the air filled with music, food, and laughter, the night became a living reflection of what we hope to nurture here: connection as a form of art.

Those who joined us contributed not only to this event, but also to the future projects of the artists we dream of welcoming in the years to come.
Your presence, your curiosity, and your support make DAA possible — thank you for being part of our journey.

Here’s to spring — and to everything that grows when we come together.

Thank you for being with us to all of our friends, collaborators, supporters, artists and curious minds who love to follow arts.

Notes from Istanbul: Conversations that Shape an Art Residency

At the beginning of March 2025, we as the DAA Art Residency team spent four days in Istanbul, meeting with artists and cultural institutions that inspire and inform our work in Bodrum. The trip served as both a learning journey and a gesture of connection toward the wider arts ecosystem in Türkiye.

We began with artist meetings in Karaköy and Galata, speaking about research-based practices, co-writing, and possibilities for future residencies. Along the way, we visited exhibitions and discovered new voices that resonate with our mission.

Our time at Istanbul Modern opened discussions on residency models, sustainability, and the evolving role of large institutions in supporting artistic production. At Gate27, we exchanged knowledge on governance, selection criteria, and alumni networks that continue to nurture artists long after their stay.

We also met with Anadolu Kültür  exploring the complexities of legal structures, transparent selection processes, and longer-term art residency durations that allow deeper engagement. Conversations with collection managers shifted our perspective on community support and the importance of meaningful encounters with patrons.

One morning was spent in the tranquil gardens of Tarabya Cultural Academy, imagining future collaborations that might connect Bodrum’s slower rhythms with international artistic flows. 

Each meeting was driven by generosity and curiosity. While every institution had its own approach, a shared belief emerged: strong art residencies grow from care, collaboration, and the courage to give artists time.

We returned home encouraged by the support offered, the doors opened, and the new relationships formed. These conversations will evolve into shared projects, thoughtful models, and invitations that connect Istanbul’s intensity with the grounded, process-driven environment of DAA Art Residency.

the very first day!

“I read a book one day, and my whole life was changed.”

— Orhan Pamuk

I visited an artist residency one day, and my whole life was changed.

Yes, just like that.

In April 2014, when I visited my choreographer friend Jodi Lomask, who was an artist-in-residence at Djerassi Residency, I could never have imagined that one day we, too, would have our own residency — a place surrounded by nature, where we would welcome artists from around the world. The seed of that beautiful idea was planted that day. That seed, even at times when I was not fully aware of its existence, stayed alive within me — quietly, persistently.

In April 2022, when we first saw the land that would become DAA, that long-sleeping seed began to stir again. And the idea of bringing that dream to life in Türkiye, in Bodrum, gave that seed new joy — it started to grow, to branch, to blossom.

I will never forget that rainy day when we saw this beautiful land for the very first time. Although we were mesmerized by its beauty, we hesitated at first. It was much too big for us to handle. We did not even have plans to stay in Türkiye. As we were leaving that day, we thanked Ali for showing us around and told him, “We hope that whoever buys it will be someone who truly connects with this place.”

We couldn’t have known then that Dağbelen would anchor itself so deeply in our hearts  and  one day we would sell our home in San Francisco to come and live in this magical place.

Aynur

A blurry photo taken on that very first visit to Dağbelen.