Street painter begins work at Puri beach

BHUBANESWAR: Renowned street painter Tracy Lee Stum began her work on the 3D chalk painting at Puri beach on Saturday. She arrived here on Friday to participate in the ‘jugalbandi’ of sand art and chalk painting, being organised by the US Consulate General, Hyderabad, and the Tourism Department of the State Government. While sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik has already completed his art, Tracy will finish hers by Sunday noon. The art is being created on an area of 3,000 sq ft and Sudarshan with the help of his students has used 20 tonnes of sand for his work on dolphins and Olive Ridley turtles. Both are working on the theme of ‘environment and wildlife protection’. Meanwhile, Sudarshan said that he had received a letter from the senior editor of Limca Book of Records Aarti Singh to place this innovative ‘jugalbandi’ in the Book of Records. With thousands of visitors gathering at the beach near the May Fair Hotel to witness Sudarshan and Tracy’s creations, the Tourism Department has created separate raised platforms for visitors to watch the ‘jugalbandi’.  “The department has decided to keep the art on the beach till Monday for public viewing,” said Tourism Director H S Upadhaya.