Sushmita is thrilled to be invited to participate at Celebration of the Arts 2026 at Tysons. To activate her 20 foot x 40 foot tent she will bring 3 ways in which visitors can experience her work of 20 years as an artist, writer, and educator.
The activation is titled:
“Art, Stories, Community: Experience Studio PAUSE
with artist Sushmita Mazumdar.”
1. ART: Bookmaking Activity
Make a “My Rangoli” Book, Celebrating Diwali, The Festival of Light
When I saw people reacting to the colorful papers and patterns of my Handmade Storybook Little Lantern and the Dark & Moonless Night, I created a version of the book with no text and the “My Rangoli Book” (2019) was born. Check out the gorgeous papers I have found, touch them, turn them over, run your fingers over it. Then pick the ones you like and make a stack. Assemble them carefully, staple them, and add the cover and back labels. Then we put the tealight in the center and your own unique Rangoli becomes a book!
2. STORIES: City of Stories Project
City of Stories: Memories of Childhoods (2026)
We learn about the lives of great people and know everything about celebrities, but where can we learn the stories of everyday people in our community? And how can they inspire us to share our own stories?
Since 2018, my signature project, City of Stories, has been about sharing stories so viewers can see them as text and image, pick one they connect with, learn to make it into a 3D, house-shaped book, and share their own stories in it. When installed, the houses look like a city—a city of stories. For the Celebration of the Arts 2026, I have gone through two of my various City of Stories projects and bring you memories of childhoods.
I know that when we learn the stories of others, we can often find a connection with them or we learn something new. Either way, the stories change us. They help us become a more understanding community, and this is the kind of community I want to live in.
3. COMMUNITY: An Exhibit
“Me, Here” — A Community Art Exhibit
“In a community art exhibit I share the work of artists, poets, and everyday people—together—showcasing the diversity of expressions and ideas present, side-by-side, just like how we are in our communities.”
As we start Year 14 this September, I want to share how people have created or displayed their works at the Studio. Many have given me artworks or objects out of gratitude or just joy. I have mixed them with all my art and created the Studio Pause Community Art Collection. I am thrilled to share my work here with some works created by PAUSErs who are volunteering here. As I designed this show I know that the work I started 20 years ago helped me figure out who I was going to be, here, in the US.