top of page

Create Your First Project

Start adding your projects to your portfolio. Click on "Manage Projects" to get started

Speak Not So Easy

Project type

Socially Engaged Art

Date

2023- 2025

Location

Monterey, CA

A socially engaged art project in which the artist facilitated weekly gatherings for young people to explore themselves, their communities, and the world around them. In these meetings, students reflected on and shared thoughts, ideas, and feelings that were often difficult to express elsewhere. The students created videos as a form of self-expression, while the artist guided conceptual development, idea refinement, and strategies for sharing their work with the community. Participants also collaborated to design The Umbrella of Humanity, a participatory public art installation fostering dialogue, connection, and shared understanding. The project provided a safe and supportive environment for creative exploration, critical thinking, and community-building, enabling participants to shape the inclusive space they wanted to see and experience.

Be part of the journey • Join the newsletter!

© 2026 by Mai Ryuno | Photos: Sheldon Chang, Grace Khieu, and Julie Chon

bottom of page