May Sun shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning May, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? When was the last time you felt true joy?
When I’m making art in my studio, and my pet family is happy and healthy.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
After working on big permanent public art commissions for many years, I am now focusing on studio based work – paintings, drawings, small sculptural objects and photography. My artmaking history includes performance art and large scale multi media installations. A curator from New York, Macaella Gray, is putting together a “mini-retrospective” of my work next year at an artists run gallery named “Kaje” in Brooklyn.
I am also doing line drawings of my rescued pets doing what they love to do, with accompanying text. For example, “loves to hang out on the back of the couch while you’re reading.” These drawings will be transferred onto various items and I am in the process of creating a website (www.lovedanimals.org) for people to purchase these items. There will also be other items based on my animal paintings. I’m naming the brand “Loved Animals,” showing abandoned and abused animals thriving in a caring and loving environment. A large percentage of the sales will be donated on a regular basis to animal rescue organizations.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
I gained a lot of experience when I was on staff in the Art Department of the Mark Taper Forum in downtown Los Angeles.
Headed by the late Liz Kooker, who was a wonderful boss and mentor, we produced all printed matter including posters and programs for the plays. We commissioned outside illustrators as well as in-house artwork.
I learned to work with deadlines (always meeting them), work with various vendors (people skills), other creative people (playwrights, directors, illustrators) as well as art directing various projects.
Being a Fine Art major in college, I learned the art of precision required in the field of Graphic Design on the job. Our office worked closely with the next door Press Department, where grammar and proof reading was taken seriously. I’ve always been a good speller and proof reader, so that level of professionalism stayed with me.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
I was lonely a lot as a child, because I’m the youngest in the family and there was quite a big age difference to my closest sibling. At home, I would draw a lot, to entertain myself. It was a daily activity. Listening to music on the radio helped a lot. Songs I like lifted my mood tremendously, they still do.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
If they’re getting it totally wrong, then they’re not smart people! I would say the emphasis on material wealth as a symbol of success. The limited definition of “success.” The thinking that art classes in secondary education is irrelevant, that it doesn’t contribute to overall well being and useful insight. The devaluing of the importance of good teachers. The thinking that the human race is the only important species on this fragile earth. That power means bullying or violence and acts of cruelty instead of actions which embody integrity, wisdom and kindness.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I always aimed to make the world a better place when I leave then when I found it, however small my contributions may be.
I can’t control the ghastly turn in politics that cause so much suffering in this world, but I can contribute to a more aesthetic
world and align with kind and compassionate people who do keep trying to make the world a better place, for both humans and animals.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.maysunstudio.com, www.lovedanimals.org
- Instagram: #maysunartist
- Facebook: May Sun
Image Credits
For the two photos of me (one in the studio with cat, and one in the garden with dog): Martin Kearney
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
