On the Occasion of the 373rd Anniversay of Herzafen Ahmet Celebi's Flight and the 1st Anniversary of Steve Walls' Death (2007, gold leaf and text in Turkish and English on paper, folded into an airplane and thrown by the artist from Galata Tower, Istanbul)





English translation of the text:

"Herzafen Amet Celebi was a 17th century scholar and scientist who lived in what is now known as Istanbul.  In 1634, wearing a set of handmade wings, he jumped from the top of Galata Tower, glided across the Bosphorus, and landed on the opposite shore.  he is believed to be one of the first aviators to succeed in flying with artificial wings.  The sultan, jealous of Celebi's accomplishment, exiled him to a life a homelessness.

Celebi died, destitute, in 1640.

Steve Walls was a 20th century artist and scholar who spent most of his life homeless in Memphis, TN.  In July of 2006, wearing a second-hand hospital gown, he listened as I read aloud a history of early aviation that failed to mention Herzafen Amet Celebi.

Walls died, destitute, on July 4th, 2006.

On the occasion of the 373rd anniversary of Celebi's flight and the first anniversary of Wall's death, I climbed to the top of Galata Tower and launched this small, handmade aircraft in the direction of my home.

T.Y.S.W.
J.P."