Between his art and photography, Tracy MacEwan is busy capturing a world he is grateful to still be in.
Three-and-a-half years ago a debilitating stroke may have brought him down, but it isn’t keeping him down. MacEwan, who spends his waking hours going between his art studio, the galleries and coffee shops that exhibit his work, and photographing happenings around the beach town of Lincoln City, stays on the move.
MacEwan, originally from Hood River Oregon, earned a Bachelor of Art at the University of Washington in Seattle and a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Oregon in Eugene.
“My background was in photography, but I was so attracted to the smell of oils and the feel of paper in the art supplies department in the basement of the U of O book store, I decided to try my hand at painting,” MacEwan said. “I relied on the bookstore staff to help me because I had no idea how to even start. They were so wonderful. They would respond to my questions with: ‘Oh if you want to do this, or if you want to do that, try this and/or try that.’ I loved it.
In 1995, MacEwan applied for and was awarded an artist residency at Yaddo in Saratoga Springs New York. Founded in 1900 by the financier Spencer Trask and his wife Katrina. Yaddo’s mission is to nurture the creative process by providing an opportunity for artists to work without interruption in a supportive environment.
“I was fortunate enough to be given both a painting studio and a dark room.”
MacEwan, whose speech and motor activity were severely affected, was fortunate not to lose his memory.
“Someone told me that it takes a year per hour in brain surgery to recover and if that is true, I’m right on track,” MacEwan said. “I used to be an avid reader and email person and I’m slowly getting those skills back. I want to do so much more but I understand my limitations and am working with them.
“I am really into abstract color and photography and I feel lucky that I can do both.”
To see more art by Tracy MacEwan, visit Volta Gallery at www.voltaglass.com
Photo; Tracy MacEwan, artist.
