Artist’s Statement

I was born and raised in Sri Lanka and came to live in Vancouver 15 years ago, in 1988. In Sri Lanka I had completed accounting and business degrees and worked in these fields for 12 years, some of which I spent in Holland. All that changed when I arrived in Canada.

I decided to completely immerse myself in the study of art and craft. I took various workshops in silk painting, jewellery making, fashion illustration, watercolour painting, paper making, stained glass art, and bead embroidery, just to name a few. I also joined the Vancouver Guild of Fabric Art, of which I am a member to this day. In 1991 I enrolled in a two-year Textile Art program at Capilano College, where I developed an interest in silk painting. After graduation I concentrated on exhibiting my work and selling through select galleries.

In 1997 I took a workshop in the off-loom technique of Peyote bead weaving, at which point I became a complete beading addict. I have since then taught myself many new techniques and continue to experiment with colour and design. At this time I exhibit, sell and publish primarily beading work.

Contact Information:

Sharmini Wirasekara
1350 Whitby Road
West Vancouver, BC
V7S 2N5
tel: 604-926-3349
email: wkara@shaw.ca

Work can be viewed at the following venues:

Mountain Craft Gallery, Whistler, BC, www.mountaincraftgallery.com
Diana Sanderson Silk Studio, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
Crafthouse, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
La Jolla Fiber Arts, La Jolla, California, USA

Pomp and Pageantry, necklace. Peyote bead weaving, glass delica beads and antique metallic ornaments, 17 in. x 10 in, 2002.

The Maya, necklace/wall hanging. Peyote bead weaving, glass delica beads with assorted decorative beads (bugles, hex, seed beads), leather, cord, wooden dowel, 16.5 in. x 12 in, 2003.

Sea of Life Kimono, ornament. Peyote bead weaving, glass delica beads, silk fabric, plexiglas stand, 9 in. x 6.5 in, 2002.