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News and Updates
Workshops in Sri Lanka (August 2016)
"Improve Your Photography and Tell Your Story"
• Sunday, August 21 – 9:00-11:00 – Kandy
Workshop at the American Center - Kandy
• Monday, August 22 – Colombo
10:00 - 12:00: Workshop for university students in collaboration with the
Institute of Sri Lankan Photographers - TBC
4:00 - 6:00: Outdoor workshop with photojournalists and social media activists
with a field trip to Wellawatta
• Tuesday, August 23 - Jaffna
3:30 - 5:30: Workshop at the American Center
9:30 - 11:30: Workshop with local photojournalist experts/alumni for
media students at the University of Jaffna
 August 25, 2016 – Matara
Photographic workshop at the Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Matara. (Click
on photo to the right for a larger image.)
August 25, 2013 – Colombo
Photographic workshop sponsored by the Photographic Society of Sri Lanka at the Lionel Wendt Center in Colombo.
August 24-25, 2013 – Colombo
Photography Exhibition at the Harold Peiris Gallery at the Lionel Wendt Center sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Colombo and the Photographic Society of Sri Lanka
August 17, 2013 – Kandy
Presentation to Access Micro Scholarship Students -3:00PM
Public Lecture: "My Life as a Photographer in America and Sri Lanka" at the American Corner in Kandy, Sri Lanka - 4:30 PM
August 15 & 16, 2013 – Jaffna
Photography workshop, presentations and exhibition for youth forum members and high school & university students at the American Corner – Jaffna, Sri Lanka
August 12, 2013 – Colombo
Public Lecture: "My Life as a Photographer in America and Sri Lanka" at the American Center in Colombo, Sri Lanka - 4:00 PM
January - February 2013
Sri Lanka and the Kandy Esala Perahera Exhibition at the Wyandotte
Arts Center Gallery – Wyandotte, MI (Click
here for a related photograph.)
 October
25, 2012
Royal Oak Library - Lecture in Friends Auditorium, Royal Oak,
MI
Michael Sarnacki presents a copy of his book to Mary Karshner
Director of the Royal Oak Public Library. (Click
on photo to the right for a larger image.)
October 24, 2012
Oakland Community College and American Society of Media Photographers
Lecture and Book Signing - Oakland Community College Auditorium,
Royal Oak Campus - Royal Oak, MI (Click
here for a related photograph.)
August 9, 2012: Michael Sarnacki
Honored by the Governor of Kandy
The Honorable Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Governor of the Central
Province of Sri Lanka, presents a gold plaque to Michael Sarnacki
to commemorate the completion of his book and his return visit
to Kandy. (Click
here for a related photograph.)
Aug. 6 to Sept. 4, 2012: Exhibition
at the American Center in Colombo
An opening reception was held at the American Center of the
United States Embassy in Colombo on August 6, 2012 for the
exhibition of the photographs from Sri Lanka and the Kandy
Esala Perahera. It was immediately followed by a presentation
of the project by Michael Sarnacki in the Lecture Hall of
the American Center. (Click
here for a related photograph.)
August 1, 2012: Book Presented to
the Sri Lanka President
A slipcase edition of the book was presented to Sri Lankan
President Mahinda Rajapaksa during a ceremony marking the
end of the Kandy Perahera season. This year’s event was
the 1,700th annual procession honoring Sacred Tooth Relic
on the island. (Click
here for a related photograph.)
July 31, 2012: Meeting with the Sri
Lanka Photographic Society
Michael Sarnacki met with the membership of the Sri Lanka
Photographic Society to discuss the project and the details
of his photographic technique and style. The Sri Lanka Photographic
Society has been active for the last 130 years! The invitation
to address the group was a great honor. (Click
here for a related photograph.)
July 29, 2012: Book Signing and Reception
in Colombo
A book signing and reception was held at the Vijitha Yapa
Bookshop in the Crescat Boulevard Mall at the Cinnamon Grand
Hotel in Colombo. (Click
here for a related photograph.)
July 28, 2012: Presentation in Kandy
at the American Corner
Michael Sarnacki makes his first presentation about the project
at the American Corner in the Senanayake Public Library in
Kandy. (Click
here for a related photograph.)
July 23 – August 9, 2012: A
Triumphant Return to Sri Lanka
Michael Sarnacki returns to Sri Lanka to celebrate the completion
of the 17-year long project documenting Sri Lanka and the
Kandy Esala Perahera. (Click
here for a related photograph.)
July 19, 2012: Meeting in Los Angeles
with the Sri Lanka Foundation and the Sri Lanka Patriots
Michael Sarnacki meets with Wickrema Gankanda of the Sri Lanka
Patriots and Dr. Walter Jayasinghe the founder and President
of the Sri Lanka Foundation to discuss the book and exhibition.
(Click
here for a related photograph.)
July 15, 2012: Michael Sarnacki receives
an Overseas Cultural Grant from the United States Embassy
in Colombo
Michael Sarnacki receives an Overseas Cultural Grant from
the U.S. State Department for expenses related to the presentations
and exhibition of the project at the American Center in Colombo.
June 18, 2012: Sri Lanka Embassy
in Washington D.C. Celebrates the Launching of "Sri Lanka
and the Kandy Esala Perahera"
Sri Lanka and the Kandy Esala Perahera, a photographic masterpiece
by photographer Michael Sarnacki was ceremonially launched
in Washington D.C. on June 18, 2012. The Embassy of Sri Lanka
in Washington D.C. sponsored the event as part of its robust
program to promote the book and exhibition, and more broadly
to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination in the United
States. (Click
here for related photographs.)
May 31, 2012: Exhibition Opens at
the Swords into Plowshares Peace Center and Gallery, Detroit
The first major exhibition of the photographs goes on display
in Detroit, Michigan at the Swords into Plowshares Peace Center
and Gallery. The exhibition runs from May 31st to June 14,
2012. A grand and festive Opening Reception was held on May
31st, followed by a Gallery Talk on June the 14th, where Michael
Sarnacki outlined his experiences in Sri Lanka. The exhibition
and accompanying events were a great success. (Click
here for related photographs.)
May
22, 2012: Book Arrives
At long last, the shipment of books arrives from Hong Kong.
Sri Lanka receives 200 copies that are sold out in one week.
We receive 1,000 copies and quickly arrange to ship 200 more
to Sri Lanka.
April 17, 2012 - Advance copies of
book arrives
A few days ago a small number of advance copies of the Sri
Lanka book arrived. What a joy! I am very pleased with the
production and really glad that I’ve had the opportunity
to have complete control over the content, look and feel of
the book. I think I’ve seen just about every book produced
about the Kandy Esala Perahera and I can say, with all modesty,
that this is the finest book ever produced about one of the
world's greatest events. Simply put, it’s all that I
hoped it would be and I look forward to sharing it with each
of you.
There are only 1200 copies of this first edition printed.
Two hundred copies will arrive in Sri Lanka in a few weeks
and one thousand copies will be distributed from the United
States in early May. If you are interested in purchasing a
book, or the special book and print edition, I would urge
you to pre-order soon.
The book can be pre-ordered from this
site or Amazon.com (Book
only or Book,
slipcase and print)
March
27, 2012: Approved for printing
As of this date, we have seen and approved all aspects of
the printed book…design and layout, printed sheets, varnish
pages, cover color, end sheets, slip case, book jacket, gold
foil stampings, etc. We are very pleased with the entire production
and can’t be more excited. We should be receiving a small
number of advanced copies for promotion in a few weeks. The
large shipment of all complete books is scheduled to arrive
in the United States (1000 copies) and in Sri Lanka (200 copies)
in mid-May. We are now accepting pre-orders for the book.
Orders can be placed using this site
or through Amazon.com. Since there are only 1200 copies of
the book printed for worldwide distribution, we would urge
you to pre-order you book immediately.
We are also in the process of producing prints for the premier
exhibition of this project from May 31-June 14 at the Swords
Into Plowshares Gallery in Detroit, Michigan. We will keep
you informed as this event nears.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter
and Facebook.
 February
20, 2012: The Final Proof Sign-off
Today Trista Sample and I signed off on the last of the proofs
for the Sri Lanka book - including the slip case, the book
jacket, book cover, varnish pages, UV coatings, gold foil
stampings, photos, photo placement, captions, text, and overall
look of the book. It's now in the hands of the craftsmen
and craftswomen at Everbest Printing in Hong Kong. Needless
to say we are excited to be this close to the completion of
the book.
We are planning a book signing and exhibition event sometime
in the months to come. When we know the expected delivery
date of the book, we will let you know when and where the
event will take place.
Special thanks to Ryan Arend and Jared Stevens at FCI Digital
for their expert assistance and courteous cooperation with
the changes made to refine the book. And thanks to Maureen
Nolan for one last proof reading and for some thoughtful suggestions
that we worked into the book. And hugs to my wife Jeanne
who caught one rather large typo that no one else seemed to
spot – always covering my back. (Click
on photo above for a larger image.)
Dec. 17 , 2011: Book Production to Begin Soon
Today we formalized arrangements with a book broker for the
production of Sri Lanka and the Kandy Esala Perahera.
Trista Sample and I have been working with book designer Mayapriya
Long since July and together we've created something really
special. The process has taken longer than I first thought,
but I have to keep reminding myself that, "What is made
with time, time respects."
I would anticipate that the book will be available sometime
in very late February or early March. We will most definitely
have an exhibition and opening reception somewhere in the
Detroit area to formally launch this body of work. I will
keep you informed about all the planning in the months to
come. I'm looking for a suitable venue now, if you have any
ideas please let me know.
The photo above right shows the front jacket cover. The yellow
title and framing will be gold foil stamped and the photograph
will be UV gloss coated – so it should look wonderful!
The book has 272 pages and more than 300 photographs and illustrations.
Obviously we'll be monitoring the production of the book as
closely as we can. It seems that soon this dream will become
a reality.
Thank you all for your support and goodwill. (Click
on photo above for a larger image.)
 Sept.
2, 2011: Prints Completed for Kickstarters Supporters
Trista Sample makes a final inspection of the prints supporters
of the Kickstarter effort will be receiving. Each print is
encased in a custom handmade sleeve complete with a red and
gold elephant emblem. In the coming weeks the prints will
be delivered to all those who pledged an amount rewarded with
a print only. The supporters who pledged an amount for a book
and print will be sent their print when the book is received
later this year. (Click
on photo for a larger image.)
 July
31, 2011: Design production begins. Michael meets with book
designer Mayapriya Long.
Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Mayapriya Long lives
and works in her home studio near the town of Lovingston,
Virginia. Mayapriya, a name she acquired during her time in
India, will be assembling the material in a manner that reflects
our impressions of the religious and cultural nature of the
region. Mayapriya is a great designer and a great individual.
(Click
on photo for a larger image.)
July 1, 2011 Project update: Print
and Book Production
 We
have started making prints for the contributors of the Kickstarter
program. We will be printing more than 140 photographs! We
anticipate distributing these prints during the month of August.
We are also making final adjustments to the text and images
for the book. Our goal is to have all the book material to
the designer at the end of this month. The book will be in
the hands of the designer Mayapriya Long during the month
of August. Once the design is completed we will then send
if off for printing. Again our goal is to have the finished
book in hand by November. We will do everything we can to
stay on this timeline. (Click
on photo for a larger image.)
June 15, 2011: Serendib Magazine
Feature Story
The most recent issue of Serendib Magazine published
by BT Options includes a feature story on Michael Sarnacki’s
work about the Kandy Esala Perahera. The issue includes both
photographs and the written text by Michael Sarnacki. The
magazine will be distributed in all fights of Sri Lankan Airlines
during the months of June and July of 2011.
June 9, 2011
"Photographer
Goes Online to Finance a Distant Artistic Calling"
– SecondAct.com
June 1, 2011: Kickstarter Fundraising
Successful
 Through
the thoughtful generosity of more the 175 individuals the
fundraising effort on Kickstarter was successful. The project’s
goal was surpassed on the very last day of the program. In
the coming weeks the manuscript and photographs will be turned
over to a superb graphic artist for book design. Please check
back here for further updates. Thank you all for your support
and well wishes.
June 1, 2011
"Royal
Oak photographer raises $20,000 online for book"
– The Daily Tribune
May 23, 2011
"An
Interview with Photographer Michael Sarnacki" –
NewsNow.lk - Sri Lanka
May 21, 2011
"Royal
Oak Photographer Tries to ‘Kickstart’ Book"
– The Daily Tribune
April
17, 2011: Fundraising
Today
we started a major fundraising effort using Kickstarter,
a site used by artists to raise money to produce their project.
A video on the site explains the project and what the funds
will be used for. The funding goal is $20,000. The deadline
for the fundraising effort is June 1st. If the goal is not
reached, we receive no funding. It is an all or nothing proposition.
We urge everyone to visit the site and make a contribution
to this project. It also is important to inform your friends
and colleagues about this effort. To support this project
through Kickstarter, please
click here.
September 1, 2010: Back home again
I've just arrived home again after spending the last three
weeks in Sri Lanka. It seems that the majority of my time
was spent traveling to attend meetings regarding the publication
of the book.
During my travels to Colombo, I met with Dammikka Sriwardhana,
a very talented designer, along with Dharani Karunaratne,
a Sri Lankan publisher, who is "very keen" on printing
and distributing the book. I am eagerly awaiting a formal
proposal from these individuals which will detail an arrangement
to design and publish this assembled body of work.
Although I had less time to photograph this trip, I did have
time to make a few new friends and reacquaint myself with
some people I’ve known for many years. I again had the
opportunity to meet with Sri Lankan President Rajapakshe.
He looked a bit tired and I couldn’t help but tell him
not to work so hard. He laughed and said he had no option.
 April
27, 2010: Washington D.C. meeting
with Sri Lankan ambassador to the United States
American photographer Michael Sarnacki presents a copy of
his manuscript, Sri Lanka and the Kandy Esala Perahera;
Discovering the Spirit of Buddha in the Land of Elephants,
to Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya. Mr. Sarnacki has been
researching and photographing the festival since 1995. The
project is meant to increase international awareness about
Sri Lanka’s important religious and cultural heritage.
Under the direction of Ambassador Wickramasuriya, plans are
now being made for a major book and exhibition. Both the book
and exhibition will be made available in the United States,
Canada, in numerous European countries, and of course in Sri
Lanka. These special projects, detailing the grand Kandy Esala
Perahera, are expected to add to an increase in tourism.
April 2010: Upcoming Meeting with Sri
Lankan ambassador the United States
With the assistance of minister Wasantha Perera, a meeting
is scheduled with the Sri Lankan ambassador to the United
States, His Excellency Jaliya Wickramasuriya
October 8, 2009, Toronto: Meeting
with the Sri Lankan ambassador to Canada
Michael Sarnacki met with Bandula Jayasekara, Consul General
for Sri Lanka, to discuss the project as well as publication
and exhibition possibilities.
August 5, 2009, Kandy: Meeting the
President of Sri Lanka
 On
Poya Day, Sri Lanka's President, Mahinda Rajapakshe, was presented
with a manuscript of the book and a photograph of an elephant
in front of the Dalada Maligawa. The presentation was made
at the President’s House by the American author and photographer,
Michael Sarnacki, accompanied by Dhammika Swarnasinghe and
Buddhie Ramawickrama of Kandy as well as Sarath Ekanayake,
Chief Minister of the Central Province. The book will go into
production in the coming months and a series of exhibitions
are being planned to coincide with the publication. Exhibitions
of the photographs are being planned in the United States,
Canada and at the Queens Hotel for all Kandyans to view.
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