Colombo's open air art fair on Sunday
ART: Sri Lanka's annual open-air art gallery cum art fair 'Kala
Pola', comes alive this year on Sunday, April 2 on the shady sidewalks
outside the Art Gallery and the Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo.
Conceived and organised by The George Keyt Foundation, Kala Pola enjoys
the unbroken patronage of the John Keells Group for the 13th consecutive
year.
This year's Kala Pola will feature nearly 300 artists and sculptors
who will display their unbridled creativity to an appreciative and
growing Sri Lankan and expatriate clientele, in an explosion of colour,
filled with music, song, fun and contagious bonhomie.
'Kala Pola' initially took off from the concept of the open air
summer art fairs in European capitals, like Montmartre in Paris, with
their fascinating ambience of colour, exuberance and camaraderie after a
cold and dismal winter and possibly a chilly spring.
In keeping with this spirit, for just one Sunday from sunrise to
sunset, artists and sculptors from all over Sri Lanka will converge at
Kala Pola....from the better known to the lesser known....showcasing
their talents to an art loving public. Adding to the wide canvas of
personalities will be caricaturists, stilt walkers, virindu singers,
fortune tellers etc.
Chairman of the George Keyt Foundation Cedric de Silva said, "From
humble beginnings more than a decade ago, Kala Pola has now grown to be
a national event. It attracts hundreds of artists and sculptors from all
parts of Sri Lanka who are given the unique opportunity of displaying
their work to a vast number of buyers.
These are in fact highly talented, yet very simple men and women, who
may not be able to exhibit in Colombo's regular art galleries."
Sumithra Gunesekera, Director John Keells Holdings said, "The John
Keells Social Responsibility Foundation is strongly committed to
supporting the arts and culture of our country and we consider it a
privilege to extend our patronage to Kala Pola, which is one of the most
celebrated events in Sri Lanka's cultural calendar.
Kala Pola showcases varied talent from all parts of Sri Lanka and
provides a platform for budding artists to display their work and launch
their careers. I am also very happy to note that Kala Pola is a good
source of income for these artists, empowering them financially while
encouraging them to pursue their careers."
As in past years, 'Kala Pola 2006' will kick off at 9.30 am and
continue throughout the day with its changing sights and smells, sounds
and colours, till the birds come home to roost and dusk settles on
Colombo city. |