Indo-U.S. Arts Activism Urges Chennai to “Go Green”

Mayor Subramanian, Consul General Simkin, Stella Maris Principal Sr. Quadras, and fine arts students inaugurating the mural.

Using solar panels, LED lighting and rainwater harvesting techniques, American street artist Tracy Lee Stum, Jacob Jebaraj of the Cholamandal artists village and students of Fine Arts from Stella Maris and the Government College of Fine Arts created a multi-media mural encouraging use of green technologies and conservation to mitigate global warming and prevent further pollution.  We hope this unique Indo-U.S. artistic environmental collaboration, set in the center of Chennai, will inspire the thousands of people who pass by it every day.  The project also includes an interactive component – the blog nurturenature2009.blogspot.com -- to reach out to Chennai’s youth to promote greater awareness and action by them on environmental issues.  Chennai’s first citizen Mayor Subramaniam, Consul General Andrew Simkin, Stella Maris Principal Sr. Quadras and the Fine Arts students of Stella Maris College and the Government College of Fine Arts were on hand at the January 20 unveiling of the mural.  Mayor Subramaniam heralded the project, citing its relevance and importance to the citizens of Chennai.

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