A woman artists colloquium is an art program specifically focused for women that was initiated in 2005.  The colloquium is a six month program that contain a series of  discussion based mini workshops that would give a selected group of women artists guidance on improving their skill of conceptualization and articulation of art an idea within a critical frame work and to work towards an exhibition.  It would also include learning aspects of exhibition curation as well as to be familiar with the presentation of their art profile to establish them as professional artists. The program invites number of established and well-known artists and academics on subjects such as gender studies, cultural theory, art history to lead the discussions and workshops.  The candidates for the Colloquium and are selected from the young art graduates after reviewing their art profiles. The program ends with a development of individual art projects that would be part of the final exhibition.

 Theertha’s sensitivity to the lack of attention given to women artists work, their contributions and their issues within the art history as well as in the contemporary art community made them to initiate the women artists’ colloquium.  There are very few  opportunities that are offered to all artists in general and within this situation  as well as the the socio- cultural restriction that exist for women, to access such opportunities has become extremely difficult for women artists.  Therefore special attention and arrangements need to be established for women artists with sensitivity to their problems and issues.  For instance in most cases young graduates from the art college become victims to the social pressures from their families to take up jobs such as teaching or to undertake other domestic commitments where their art practice gets neglected and alienated. Most women artists give up their art practice completely during the first 3 years after graduation. This has become an acute problem where one is unable to find many socially engaging women artists.  At the same time, one cannot see much experimentation or innovation in their work due to the inaccessibility of current knowledge due to various social and cultural restrictions imposed on their mobility.  Theertha’s Women’s Art Program was mainly focused to provide a forum for women artists to learn about art practices and trends that incorporate issues, anxieties and expressions of women as well as to provide additional support for them to sustain their art practice while encouraging them in experimentation and innovation.

The colloquiums discussed the following topics during its lectures and workshops:
Feminist art movement and its history, Feminist theory and politics of gender , Key concepts of  cultural theory : Modernism, Post modernism, Colonialism & Neo Colonialism, Orientalism, Art history writing,  Ideas of Aesthetics/  Politics of art making/ Freedom of artists /  Audience’s Role, Reading an artworks and looking at famous women artists’ profiles.
Each colloquium is conducted by an invite a senior artist where new techniques, conceptualizations and art making methods will be discussed and learned.

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Women Artists’ Colloquium 2005

A woman artists’ colloquium started  on January 2006 and conclude is exhibition in March 2007. Seven artists were chosen after reviewing their art profiles to take part in the program.  Following are the candidates participating in the Colloquium: Niranjala Gunasinghe,  Lakisha Fernando, Krishanthi Sepalika, Inoka De Silva, Indralatha Dharmasena, Lasanthi Kaluthanthrige, Janani Cooray.
Colloquium 2005 was conducted by Anoli Perera.  The guest lecturers invited were Dr. Asoka de zoysa, Dr. Sasanka Perera, Prof. Jagath Weerasinghe, Dr. Subanghi Herath,  Harindra Dasanayake, Prasanna Ratnayake, Cora de Lang.



   

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Women Artists’ Colloquium 2006

A woman artists’ colloquium started on February  2006 and conclude is exhibition in July 2007. Seven artists were chosen after reviewing their art profiles to take part in the program.  Following are the candidates participating in the Colloquium: Ruvani Jayarathna, Dilakshi Nisansala Wagasinghe, Sajeevi Jayasundara, H. D. Sharmila Priyadharshini, Sanjeevani Hewawitharana.

   

Colloquium 2005 was conducted by Anoli Perera.  The guest lecturers invited were Dr. Sasanka Perera, Prof. Jagath Weerasinghe, Dr. Subanghi Herath,  Harindra Dasanayake, Prasanna Ratnayake, Manika van der Pooten, Sakunthala Galange, Bandu Manamperi.

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Women Artists’ Colloquium 2007

A woman artists’ colloquium 2007 was designated as a advanced colloquium for the selected candidates who took part in the 2005 and 2006 programs. It started on September 2007 and conclude is exhibition in February 2008. Seven artists were chosen after reviewing their art profiles to take part in the program.  Following are the candidates participating in the Colloquium: Janani Cooray, Lakisha Fernando, Niranjala Gunasinghe, D. D. Sharmila Priyadharshini, Inoka de Silva, Krishanthi Sepalika.   

 

Colloquium 2005 was conducted by Prof. Jagath Weerasinghe.