 Late afternoon
light cascades through the windows of Nelum Walpola's house, bringing
out blazing color in the paintings that line the walls and are stacked
on the floor.
Mrs. Walpola, the new president of the Plano Art Association, is a
gentle woman who exudes a powerful sense of calm and serenity. In her
artist biography she says that art allows her to brings her message of
"compassion, unity, and peace to all living beings."
As she sits on a couch in the living room, Mrs. Walpola keeps a watchful
eye on a handful of small children who play a few feet away. When she
isn't painting or being a mother to her two children, Mrs. Walpola runs
a Montessori school from her home.
Three weeks ago, the Sri Lankan native was voted president of the art
association. During her tenure, she plans on building a more visible
community organization. The first event under her leadership will be an
art exhibition and live paintings demonstration from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Oct. 24 in the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve.
From early childhood a spark of artistic creativity brewed within her.
By the time she was 12, Mrs. Walpola had won several awards, including a
"best human rights poster award" in Sri Lanka and best of show at an
international children's art competition in India.
"My mother is a very creative, and my parents were encouraging and
bought supplies for me," she said.
In 1986, she moved to Austin, where her aunt ran a Montessori school.
At that time she put her paintbrushes down to marry and raise children.
It was five years before the urge to paint once again came to her.
"When I paint depends on the moment and the emotions that come to rne,"
she said. "I don't prepare an idea. I start with the color and let it
flow naturally. It's not a planned thing."
In 1995, her family moved to Plano so that she could be closer to her
brother who lives in Dallas.
Although Mrs. Walpola had never studied art at school, she took classes
at Collin County Community College so that she could hone her skills.
She stills buys time at CCCCD's art studios so that she can have space
to paint and mingle with other artists.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, Mrs. Walpola painted a devastated New York
with a plume of dark smoke covering the skyline and the eye of God
watching from the sky.
She sold a postcard of the painting around town and sent all of the
proceeds to the New York Fire Fighters Association.
"I wanted to convey what I felt and help out in some way," she said.
She received a letter from former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani
thanking her for her efforts.
Since 2002 she has had five solo exhibitions in the Dallas-Fort Worth
area. Her painting "Hatred is only opposed by Love" was displayed at the
Dallas Museum of Art. A painting called "Unity" was enlarged and painted
on the Plano Advocacy Center.
"What I like to do with my art is deliver a message," she said. "I'm
attracted to people, rhythm, and movement."
The Plano Art Association was formed in 1969 and consists of 250
members. Mrs. Walpola's goal as the president of the association is
exposing the community to the arts in Plano.
As president, she organizes meetings and events. Mrs. Walpola wants to
create a series of activities that will bring local artists into greater
contact with the community.
"Artists love to be out in the community, and they really enrich the
place that we live," she said.
For information, visit www.planoart.org or call 972-633-0099.
"What I like to do with my art is deliver a message. I'm attracted to
people, rhythm and movement"
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An article from the Plano Star Courier, Saturday, June 28, 2003 |
Read more... |
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Nelum Donates Painting to the City
A painting that Nelum donated to the City of Plano, Texas was
received by Mayor Pat Evans. In a letter to Nelum, the mayor
expressed her appreciation for sharing her talents with the citizenship
of Plano and that the painting will be displayed in the Mayor's office.
Mayor's Letter
Plano Art Association member Nelum Walpola and Mayor
Pat Evans
November 2002 |
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 Plano artist paints tribute to Sept. 11 victims
An the article written by staff writer LEI ZHANG that
appeared in the PLANO STAR COURIER of November 7 2001.
When Plano's Nelum Walpola emigrated to the United States in 1986, she
thought she left behind the horrors of terrorist attacks in her home
country of Sri Lanka.
However, the heinous attacks on Sept. 11 ripped open all the old wounds
and added new sorrows. She was glued to the TV set, watched till she
could not take it any more.
She cried with the parents who were looking
for their children, and husbands and wives who were looking for their
spouses.
She put all the sorrow in a water color painting titled,
"Freedom will prevail." Amid the smoke and dust, an American flag flies
high up on top of a skyscraper. The Statue of liberty stands as proud as
ever.
"I was just trying to make myself feel better," she said. "I also want
to help those brave firefighters, and the families of firefighters who
died."
"As an artist, I was inspired to paint my interpretation of what I
felt," she said. "The message of my painting is that freedom will
prevail, and the eye of freedom cries as the spirit of peace flies."
Walpola sells the print for $15 and all the profits goes to the widows
and children of the New York firefighters.
Nelum started to paint when she was a little child. At the age of 11,
she has the overall prize and the age group prize on child art
competition held by Ellesbridge Jaycees International Art Exhibition.
Her recent oil painting, "Ballet Dancer," is one of the five paintings
elected by the Texas State Fair.
"In Sri Lanka, people appreciate art a lot," said Walpola, whose parents
still live in Sri Lanka.
Terrorism is no stanger to the Sri Lanka people. The 18-year-old
conflict between the government and a Tamil separatist group, the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has left many people dead or
injured. LTTE frequently carries out bomb attacks.
"Terrorism is a serious problem there," said Walpola. "One time a bomb
set off not far from where I lived. The blast shook my house. I was so
scared."
In October 1997, the State Department designated the LTTE as a foreign
terrorist organization. As recently as July 24, it attacked the Colombo
International Airport and destroyed both commercial and military
aircraft.
"Unfortunately, not many people know the problem in Sri Lanka." said
Walpola. "Its needs international help to end terrorism there."
Walpola came to the United States to teach Montessori classes. Currently
she runs an in-home Montessori school at her plano home.
She devotes much of spare time painting and volunteering. She also
participated in the mural project for the Collin County Children's
Advocacy Center.
"As long as I get a opportunity, I always like to volunteer," she said
with a big smile.
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