The place was abuzz with activity - paintings of all shapes and sizes, tapestries and wall hangings everywhere. In 1949 Cora Abraham established her school - one which would influence many great Sri Lankan artists. This school was like no other standard art school of that era. Cora Abraham saw in her charges, something that many people failed to see and in some cases, still fail to see - the worth of their imagination.

Fifty seven years down the line, countless students have passed through her hands and some among them have gone on to become artists of repute.

“Our main focus here is to instruct, or guide, but not actually teach,” explained Ms. Nalini Weerasinghe, a former pupil, teacher and Principal of CAAC (Cora Abraham Art Classes). “The only instruction a child will get is on the technical aspects of art. Where everything else is concerned, we give their imagination a free rein.”

The school now has about 250 students ranging from the age of 4 to 15, and this number keeps growing. “One of the nicest testimonies to the success of the school is to see third generation students,” enthused Ms. Chandramani Thenuwara, one of the members of the Board of Management. “Seeing that our students have been happy here, and have also brought their children and grandchildren here, is a wonderful feeling.”

In the light of a few financial difficulties that CAAC has been facing over the last few years, some past pupils have banded together to help the school. A fundraising exhibition, titled ‘Tribute to a Teacher, The Late Cora Abraham’, will be held from July 26 to August 2, at the Barefoot Gallery from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
No ordinary exhibition, it will showcase many forms of art, from paintings to jewellery, including the work of many well-known artists such as Richard Gabriel, Neville Weeraratne, Sybil Keyt, Laki Senanayake, Druvinka Madawala and many promising young artists- Shamanthi Rajasingham, Samashi Weeraratne and Premisha Premadasa to name a few.

Being a part of CAAC for 27 years as a pupil and finally as Principal, Ms. Weerasinghe has seen countless children develop through art. For her, one of the most rewarding experiences is to see a child who comes in here, very diffident and insecure; and after a few months, changing completely. The art exhibition, for which CAAC has been tirelessly preparing is, apart from being a tribute to its founder, a showcase of all the talent that the school has nurtured, coming together to keep alive the vision of a very special teacher and artist.