Lee
Tracy
Stum
Redefining the Art of Street Painting
Tracy Lee Stum. Mouse trap. 2010. Chalk. Sarsota Chalk Festival. Sarisota Florida. 10/16/2012. http:// www.tracyleestum.com/gallery
Many artists eagerly anticipate the silence and solitary confinement of their studios. It is in this place that they can concentrate and channel their creative talents into beautiful masterpieces. This is not the case, however, for interactive street painter Tracy Lee Stum. For her, the interaction and socializing is exciting. She tells me, “the performance aspect, and the fact that it’s ephemeral, it’s not going to last, is really precious.” Despite its fleeting aspect, Tracy’s art can be found all over the world. This “asphalt eccentric,” as she refers to herself on Facebook, and Pennsylvania native, keeps quite busy by producing images for advertisers, participates in non-profit art festivals (many of
Photograph by Lori Steed. 2010. <www.essencecaptured.com>
Tracy Lee Stum. Escape Of The Mummy. 2008. Chalk. Italian Street Festival ‘Youth in Arts’. San Rafael, California Accessed 10/12/2012. < http://www.anopticalillusion.com/2012/08/escape-of-the-mummy-by-tracy-lee-stum/>
which help to fund children’s art programs), and is currently researching and developing a new way to redefine 3D art work. A student of painting and drawing, Tracy graduated from the Temple University, Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia with a Bachelor’s degree and went on to study naturalism at the Florence School of Art in Italy. Referring to herself as an “eternal student,” I asked her how she came into street art .
“Back when I first started
Tracy Lee Stum. Oregon Coast. 2009. Chalk. L 10/19/2012. < http://www.tracyleestum.com/3
may be lost in particular areas in order for the entire piece doing this, in 1998/99, there to work. Obviously though, was no one teaching it. -Tracy Lee Stum as anyone can see by looking at her art, the sacrifice is well worth it. I started practicing and playA lover of travel, Tracy has ing around with principals. Through all the failures that I participated in festivals all experienced I really did learn over the United States, as a lot, and I actually wound up well as in Mexico, China, and discovering and figuring out, India. Discussing two particusome of the principals on my lar festivals, Mood Indigo and own—what the rules and laws Antaragni, located in Mumbai were when you were making and Kanpur, India respectivethis work.” She acknowledges ly, she can barely contain the that some sacrifice has to be excitement she felt conducting made when large images are street painting workshops for these four day, annual, student drawn in 3D. Some beauty cultural events. Acknowledg-
Tracy Lee Stum. Puzzle. 2011. Chalk. TEDx San Diego. San Diego, California. Accessed 10/14/2012. < http://www.tracyleestum.com/3d-streetpainting-at-lincoln-city-oregon>
Lincoln City Art Festival. Lincoln City, Oregon. Accessed 3d-street-painting-at-lincoln-city-oregon>
ing that street painting in India is not exactly a common occurrence, Tracy relates the enthusiasm she encountered and her joy that art unites and is a “common language.”
lions for various causes, including cancer research and art programs. Tracy displays her creations out in the open for all to see and enjoy. She donates her time and art to worthy causes and loves As unique and breathtaking to educate others. She is the as this artist’s work may be, epitome of unselfishness. If you won’t find it for sale. The you happen to be walking reason: the images she creates down the street and see her at festivals are placed on prod- working, stop to admire it. ucts and t-shirts that generate Ask her questions. Learn. revenue for non-profit orgaThe next time it rains, it nizations. For over fourteen could all be gone. years she has donated her work to over thirty organizaTo learn more about Tracy and her work, visit: tions and festivals worldwide. www.tracyleestum.com These events have raised mil-
marine conversation Tracy from California
Art and Awareness Come to Puri Beach
W
orking all weekend isn’t so bad if you get to hang out on the beach! The U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad conducted its first cultural program in Odisha by organizing an exhibit by a 3D sidewalk artist on Puri Beach. American artist Tracy Lee Stum visited India on a five-city tour hosted by the U.S. Embassy and consulates. As a member of the Public Affairs team at Consulate, I got to help her plan her visit to Odisha. Tracy chose to collaborate with famous Odisha sand sculptor Sudarsan Puttnaik. The two agreed on marine conversation as a theme, given they both hail from coastal cities – Sudarsan from Puri and Tracy from California — and are passionate about environmental conservation. Sudarsan and Tracy had never met before this trip, but they found that they have much in com-
mon. Both of them believe in creating art in public for the public. While most art is created in private studios and displayed in galleries or museums, sidewalk paintings and sand sculptures are created in the public for the public. Tracy sees herself and Sudarsan as performers as well as artists, since passersby often stop to watch the artists work. Tracy describes the process as “creating something out of nothing” and sees it as a work of art in itself. And it was a performance. Over the course of a day and a half, thousands of people stopped to observe the progress she and Sudarsan made. She would often stop to chat with them and explain the piece. Tracy calls her sidewalk painting and Sudarsan’s sand sculptures
marine conversation Sudarsan from Puri
“ephemeral art forms”
art gallery. She demonstrated 3D techniques and worked individually with the artists. At the end of the day, the street was filled with brightly-colored because they are created to last a short period of 3D paintings. Teaching workshops is one of time before they deteriorate and disappear. As artists, both Tracy and Sudarsan have to view their Tracy’s favorite activities because she loves meeting young artists who are eager to explore new final products with detachment and agree to let techniques. I understood what she meant – it was them go. When the final piece was completed, crowds gath- so inspiring to be surrounded by energetic, creative people as they worked together to use art to ered on the viewing platform to peer through a special lens that made the painting look 3D. Tracy’s express themselves. painted dolphins looked like they were jumping out Tracy’s effect on Odisha lives on. This week we of Sudarsan’s sand sculpture into a pool right in the heard about two young women in Odisha who were so inspired by Tracy’s ideas about public art middle of the ground. that they have taken it upon themselves to pain Tracy is an artist, a performer, and also a teacher. public walls in Bhubaneswar. Read about their efShe is committed to sharing her skills with others, and on her trip to India, she conducted work- forts to make the city more beautiful here. shops for young artists in every city she visited. In Tracy’s art may be ephemeral, but her impact is Bhubaneswar, she spent a day at Bakul Children’s not. Library, and with the help of 50 young students and local artists, she transformed the street into an