Mari Gerekmezyan

Mari Gerekmezyan (; 1913–1947) was one of Turkey's first female sculptors and the first female Armenian sculptor.

Life Mari Gerekmezyan was born in the Talas village in Kayseri, Ottoman Empire. She attended the local Vart Basrig Primary Armenian School. She made his bust. Bust of Prof. Neşet Ömer (1943) Bust of Prof. Şekip Tunç (1943) Mask of Patrik Mesrob Tin (1944) Bust of Yahya Kemal Beyatlı (1945) Bust of Bedri Rahmi Eyübğlu

Awards Gerekmezyan was awarded the Ankara Sculpture Exhibit Award for her Busts of Professor Neşet Omer and Professor Şekip Tunç in 1943. She earned the First Place Award at the Ankara State Fine Arts Exhibit for her Bust of poet Yahya Kemal Beyatlı in 1945. Gerekmezyan had sculpted many busts of Eyüboğlu and Eyüboğlu likewise drew many sketches of Gerekmezyan.

Turkish language: Karadut Karadutum, çatal karam, çingenem Nar tanem, nur tanem, bir tanem Ağaç isem dalımsın salkım saçak Petek isem balımsın ağulum Günahımsın, vebalimsin. Dili mercan, dizi mercan, dişi mercan Yoluna bir can koyduğum Gökte ararken yerde bulduğum Karadutum, çatal karam, çingenem Daha nem olacaktın bir tanem Gülen ayvam, ağlayan narımsın Kadınım, kısrağım, karımsın.

English translation: MulberryMy black mulberry, my forked darky, my Gypsy, My grain of pomegranate, my grain of light, my only one; I am a tree, my limbs, a porch hanging with grapes, I am a hive, you are my honey, my bitter honey, My sin, my ague. Tongue of coral, teeth of coral, thighs of oyster, I gave you a life, my wife, My black mulberry, my forked darky, my Gypsy, What more will you be to me, my odd one, queer one, My smiling quince, my weeping pomegranate, My baby, my mare, my wife.|source= It is believed that Eyüboğlu continued to love Gerekmezyan the rest of his life. The poem would become popular as it was incorporated into Cem Karaca's song Karadut.

Legacy The Getronagan Armenian High School in Istanbul hosted an exhibition for Mari Gerekmezyan in December 2012, organized by famed Armenian-Turkish photographer Ara Güler.