Arts

'Captured moments...an ode to light and shade'

by Lakmal

Veteran photographer Chandrasena Perera will be holding his photography exhibition 'Captured moments...an ode to light and shade" at the YMBA Hall, Kurunegala, from August 18 to 20.

He is a qualified artist of repute in the photographic field , who has had many students to his credit. He has won many national and international awards for his creative eye.

The celebrated photographer's exhibition will provide much information for the talented and prospective young photographers, to enhance their knowledge in photography. The exhibition will be declared open by the world renowned photographer Dr. T. S. U. de Zylva.

Chandrasena is holding this exhibition on the invitation of the Kurunegala Photographic Society, and it will be sponsored by Hayleys Consumer Products Limited.

Happy Birthday Tony !

by Chandran Ratnam

It was a pleasure to share your Birthday with you, your family and your host of friends at the BMICH on Monday. The event was well organised.

Watching you on the screen in black and white, from scenes of many of your movies, I was touched by the intrinsic, ethereal performances that were transmitted in those few moments.

When I met you, you were a mature actor and since I had never seen the earlier movies you were in, I was touched.

You were the James Dean and Montgomery Clift of the Sinhala cinema. I cannot think of any Sri Lankan actor who could come close to your sensitivity ... and this delicate sensitivity was transmitted to audiences in the darkened cinema halls across Sri Lanka. Your performance in Pauru Walalu directed superbly by Prasanna Vithanage was perfect. You played two "father" roles in two of my films, and you did them well.

Your humour on the set kept us going on, those long cold nights at the top of the tower apartments at Bambalapitiya, during the filming of Janelaya. You encouraged me when shooting my first film Adara Kathawa. I could never forget the fun we had when you were an assistant director on Steven Spielberg's "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom". Our love and affection for our mutual friend Gamini was celebrated on many occasions, over a drink.

Most of all, I have enjoyed knowing you and working with you, our discussions on almost every subject, under the sun ... quite often under the influence.

Tony, I am proud to be called your friend.

Happy Birthday !

Homecraft Exhibition

by Lakmal Welabada

'Golden Hands' the duo Manel Gunewardane and Charmini Hemachandra along with their students will be holding their newest needlework and homecraft exhibition at the Art Gallery from Aug. 19 to 21.

Different types of paper crafts, hand-made greeting cards made to different techniques like Iris folding, Tea-bag folding, embose, embroidery and mosaic work will be among them. Candle wick taffeting (hand embroidery), new techniques of paper filigree and paper quilling are the other items that will be on display.

Entrance is free for the public, and there will be free demonstrations in all three languages (Sinhala, English and Tamil) during the exhibition hours.

Manel and Charmini have been in the homecraft field for more than two decades, and rendering a valuable service by uplifting the self employment industry in needle and homecrafts, in Sri Lanka.

'Composed: The Music of Eshantha J. Peiris'

More readily recognised on the local music scene for his appearances as a classical pianist and rock keyboardist, Eshantha Peiris will return on stage to present a recital of his original musical compositions at the Russian Cultural Centre Hall on August 18, 19 at 7.15 p.m.

Eshantha, who is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Music Composition at New York University (where he also teaches in the piano department), began his training in piano and music theory with Ramya Perera, and later furthered his passion for the creative side of music under the guidance of composers Marc-Antonio Consoli (classical), Ira Newborn (film) and Jim McNeely (jazz), while picking up a Diploma and a Bachelors' degree (sponsored by Prima Ceylon Ltd.) in piano performance along the way.

The recital program consists mainly of chamber-sized classical and jazz compositions written by Eshantha within the last four years, with some of the works having been composed/arranged especially for the weekend's performers.

The talented performer line-up comprises several of Sri Lanka's emerging generation of musicians, including vocalists Anjuli Gunaratne and Eranga Goonetilleke, string instrumentalists Namali Fernando (cello), Amal Abeysekera (viola) and Satish Casie Chetty (violin), flautists Sureka Amerasinghe, Tilanka Jayamanne, Runvindra Angunawela, Natasha Senanayake, and Johann Peiris (alto flute), drummer Sumudi Suraweera, bass guitarist Alston Joachim, and the composer himself at the piano.

Also featured will be a composition each from Sri Lankan composer Natasha Senanayake and Brazilian composer Edmundo Villani-Cortes.