An exhibition of Indian art: Tradition and modernism

Ganesh Arts which is presenting the above exhibition is a group of artists from India and abroad, established within the Bharatha Shakti Charitable Trust, India.

As the title suggests, the main theme of the exhibition is Indian culture. This is a theme as broad as its culture is old. The artists have used a variety of media to capture this spirit, depicting myriad scenes and images of India.

On offer is a unique glimpse of India's timeless heritage, that mystical, intangible essence that has fascinated the world for many centuries, and also depict the winds of change sweeping through the more contemporary aspect of its culture. Cross cultural understanding between India and Sri Lanka is one of the main objectives of this exhibition.

Being India's closest neighbour it is most appropriate to share the first glimpse of the current exhibition here in Sri Lanka, before proceeding to the UK, France and Ireland, say the artists.

"Our main aim is to spread the value of art eduction throughout India and her neighbours. Our goal is also to make art classes part of the national syllabus in all schools throughout India.

"Our immediate goal is to build an art school within our existing school; we strongly believe that we can make this possible. We intend starting art classes for children of all ages. For those who are interested and talented, we will provide further training, that they may become self sufficient and receive ongoing employment in the fields of art and crafts. The total proceeds of this exhibition will go towards the building of this art school.

"The Bharatha Shakti Trust has provided free education, helathcare, food and accommodation for up to one thousand students for the past ten years. We have already started art classes for children in their free time and during their holidays".

The current exhibition features artists from abroad who have lived and worked in India as well as talented artists from India who have completed their training at the Pondicherry School of Arts.

The exhibition will be held from July 19 to July 31 at 6/3, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 (9.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m.) and would be a good opportunity for Sri Lankans to view and own works by established and talented younger artists fast gaining repute and fame for their work.

New Fall/Winter collection

An exquisite collection of jewellery especially designed for the European, American, South East Asian and Far East markets was launched by Zam Gems (Pvt) Ltd., recently. The launch coincided with the signing of an agreement between Zam Gems and Skywards - the frequent flyer program of SriLankan Airlines and Emirates to mark Zam Gems joining the network of Skywards partners worldwide.

Describing trends in vogue today Managing Director of Zam Gems Ashan Refai said: "Semi precious stones are now very much in fashion. Necklaces and chandelier type earrings made using colourful and chunky big stones such as Tourmalines, Zircons, Amethysts, Citrine and Peridot are very much in vogue." He explains that the colour and variety of semi-precious stones available has contributed to their surge in popularity.

A selection of upmarket jewellery made using a combination of precious stones such as Rubies and Diamonds and Blue Sapphires and Diamonds was also launched at this event held at the Colombo Plaza Hotel recently. (Press release)

Bloomtime Sri Lanka

The romancing flowers upon the passionate bough; the chirping birds beneath their leaves and the romping squirrel pausing by; and it is bloomtime. Though the summer is on the wane, she shrouds the plants in colour, variegated leaves and scented buds. She cloaks the blooms in brush strokes of heavenly hue and site them in our gardens.

The rich green, gold leaves let the sun peep through and play his myriad rays on water beneath the blue heavens. The humin bee a delight in the soft breeze while two stray butterflies head-on in collision and crash land on open flowers for their nectar.

Bougainvillaea in particular with their array of multi colour are seen everywhere, soft-furnishing the gardens.

- Gwen Herat

'To Sir With Love' at Russian Centre

The Russian Centre in Colombo will screen 'To Sir with Love' (1967) on July 30 at 5 p.m.

'To Sir With Love' is the story of an unemployed engineer (Sidney Poitier), Mark Thackery who applies for a teaching job because he needs his pay check. He lands a job at school in London's East End that's full of unruly teenagers who are profoundly uninterested in learning. After several failed attempts to teach the students, Thackery abandons the textbooks and conventional teaching methods and treating them as young adults, he prepares his students for the job market. His unorthodox style is effective - the students begin to respect Thackery and absorb his lessons. But his substantial accomplishments are weighed in the balance when he is finally offered the engineering job he had been waiting for.

'To Sir With Love' did so unexpectedly well in America, starring Sidney Poitier, Chistian Roberts, Judy Geeson and Lulu.

Be at Russian Centre, No. 10, Independence Avenue, Colombo 7 on July 30 at 5 p.m. For further details contact Chandi on 2685229/2685440.

New visions on beauty care by Chamiliya by Sarath Malalasekera

Beauty therapy is an important sector which progressed rapidly with the advancement of science. The great demand for this scientific therapy from women mostly in the West and developed Asian countries has given rise to several large-scale enterprises in this sector.

The surfeit of beauty therapy product in England testifies to the immense progress this therapy has achieved in that country.

England has also several leading institutions producing Beauty therapists both men and women. The most famous among them is the Harrow on the Hill Beauty Academy. It is also referred to as the Central School for Beauty Therapy in England due to the great number of beauty therapists from developed countries.

Chamiliya Niroshini Ramanayake of Sri Lanka too has had the rare and coveted opportunity of undergoing education in Beauty therapy at this much sought after Beauty Academy. Chamiliya who is the only daughter of veteran beautician Padmini Ramanayake and Attorney-at-Law Prasanna Ramanayake had the opportunity of joining this academy in 2003 after completing her initial education at Sujatha Balika Vidyalaya, Nugegoda.

Chamiliya who completed her course this year returned to Sri Lanka recently to join her mother Padmini.

Reminiscing her stay at the Harrow on the Hill Beauty Academy she said a normal beauty therapy course has a duration of two years but a person following a full time course can complete it in one year. The course involves dramatic knowledge imparted in the classroom as well as outside practical knowledge. The student had to demonstrate what they learn in the presence of the lecturer who gives marks instantly on merit.

These marks, Chamiliya said, are added to the marks obtained at the year end examination.

Chamiliya said he followed her course alongside colleagues from USA, France, Germany, Japan and India, but she scored the highest marks among all at the year end exam, enabling her to pass it with first class honours.

She emphasised that the influence of her mother who runs four beauty schools at Nugegoda, Kiribathgoda, Mount Lavinia and Maharagama enabled to make this achievement.

The training she had received at Beauty Academies in Bangkok and Hongkong also stood her in good stead, she said.

Chamiliya said she had accompanied her mother to many international workshops on Beauty Culture and this experience gave her added impetus to reach her goals and outclass other students in eleven subjects in the class. The eleven subjects are Facial, Eye Care, Health and Safety, Salon Hygiene, Nail Care, Professional Make-Up, Beauty Science, Hair Removal Methods, Study of Skin Diseases and Disorders, Salon Business Plan and Study of Skin.

The Diploma Certificate offered at this Academy is known as "NVQ Beauty Therapy Specialist". These examinations are registered with well-known beauty products firms in England which sell their products exclusively to professional beauticians. The Diploma Certificate holder is also entitled to undertake beauty therapy work in Europe.

Chamiliya said while in England she had the opportunity to participate in several training programmes and workshops conducted by several reputed beauty products companies in England. They included the "skin Care ad facial workshop conducted by Bellitars and Creative Colouring and Hair Styling and Hair Cutting workshops conducted by Wella Company, which also offered several beauty products at concessionary prices.

"My prime objective is to provide a fruitful and satisfying service to clients visiting their Beauty Parlours," Chamiliya added.