As I prepare to say goodbye to Berlin and about eighty percent of my belongings, I have taken my camera in hand and photographed all the artwork, posters and maps that are hanging in my apartment. I thought putting them all in a little gallery here would be the best way to preserve them. Some of the artwork is by two old friends of my mother’s, Shirin Begum and Ayse Domeniconi. I also have work by my friend Michaela Faber, plus a Tara Brooch that was given to me by one of my ‘angel people’ (angel people, according to writer Natalie Goldberg are people who come into your life when you need them most). There is a photograph of the waterfall near my family’s house in Ireland and a poster for an exhibition that was ripped from a lamppost by a visiting artist friend- ‘Reclaim Your City’. She ended up putting it on my bedroom door. These images tell some of the story of my life and my family’s life in Berlin and elsewhere. The first image is of the good old map of Berlin that hangs in my hallway:
‘Arid Hills’ by Shirin Begum. This painting is based on the beach at Gumusluk, Turkey where our family spent many summers.
‘Reclaim Your City’ claimed aptly, from a city lamppost and put on my bedroom door. And a poster I bought at the Haight Ashbury street fair in San Francisco.
‘Waiting for You’ by Shirin Begum. This painting has hung over my bed for the past decade!
Glass Engraved Image of Tara Brooch given to me by a very special angel guide
Pastel flowers by Ayse Domeniconi and acrylic on canvas ‘Die Brücke’ (The Bridge) This painting holds special significance for me and is described in my essay ‘Goodbye to Berlin’.
Shirin Begum
Photo of Coomhola Waterfall near my home in Ireland by Marc Holden.
More beautiful artwork by Ayse Domeniconi: ‘Bathers’ and an Egyptian couple in a lamp
‘Tropical Hideaway’ by Shirin Begum (based on Gumusluk, Turkey)
Painting of Gallery on Kopenhagenerstrasse by Anna Zur Nieden
‘Only to See You’ by Shirin Begum
Slow Travel Berlin Guidebook Launch Poster and Soren Kierkegaard Exhibit poster at Haus Am Waldsee
‘Red Blossoms with Aloe’ by Shirin Begum
‘Lighter in Red’ by Michaela Faber
rheaboyden
Rhea Boyden 
Beautiful artwork Rhea, I hope you find a good home for it all, such a pity you can’t bring it with you.
Rhea, glad you enjoyed the poster (Haight-Ashbury).
It was my creation from the years when I lived there, and the first time they selected one of mine.
Jim Serfass
Oh wow! That is so lovely. Thanks for the message Jim. I still have the poster and brought it home to Ireland with me. It is on my bedroom door. Kind regards, Rhea