moses sun

Meta Open Arts Mural

“American Diasporas”

39.5’ x 9’

Latex paint and Posca Markers

The United States has often been described as a melting pot to reflect its makeup of many cultures, but I think it's more like a web built of the strata of many interlocking diasporas. I’m passionate about people finding common ground through sharing histories and traditions. I used abstraction through color, shape, and rhythm to dissolve state borders and reflect how we intersect and learn about one another through a kaleidoscope of digital and real-world experiences.

It felt surreal to be working an abstract painting of the United States while waiting for justice for George Floyd. And to have Duante Wright killed during the same time, was too much to bear. I’m thankful that @offgridartist was there for me. He listened like a brother. And I want to thank my friends and family that checked in on me.

Thank you @facebookopenarts @lelebarnett @tamarbenzi for the opportunity to stretch my creativity and @wiseknave taking care of logistics+documenting and @readygopictures for documenting our process.

We made something for the community of Deland, FL. And by we, I mean the awesome professors and students from Stetson University, along with the various folks from Deland that came out to paint.

From: Starbuck Stories

Moses Sun, a Seattle-based artist, has been creating art for as long as he can remember.

“My parents always supported my creativity. I thrive in ambiguous spaces and love to learn and explore media of different kinds. My greatest inspiration came from the birth of my daughter. She inspires me to be a better person and an artist.”

In addition to his daughter, Moses draws inspiration from his Southern upbringing along with Black, African, Asian and Latinx diasporas. He aims to blend his influences together into what he calls “abstract, meditative constellations of movement.”

For a recent mural, Moses was inspired by the Starbucks store where it would live, too.

He was commissioned by the Starbucks Art Program, whose purpose is to work with local artists to develop unique pieces of art that are showcased in our stores.

“As I worked, I had the privilege to listen to conversations between customers and partners (employees). The fluidity of the final piece reflects the energy of the store, neighborhood and intersection of cultures that flow through every day. I used a mix of painting and drawing with Posca latex markers. The title of the piece is ‘Confluence of Cultures.’”

The store, located in the heart of Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, sits at an intersection of one of Seattle’s most diverse areas. The store manager, Ben, prides himself in leading a team of partners who care deeply about their community and its well-being. Moses could tell.

“I really felt [the store partners’] enthusiasm when I was creating my art. I learned so much about them and how they care for the community of Capitol Hill. Before I started to conceptualize the project, I was able to hear from them about the neighborhood they live in and customers they serve. The insights they provided influenced the colors, composition and rhythm of the overall piece.”

“THE ART OF MOSES SUN REFLECTS SEATTLE’S DIASPORA, CULTURES, AND JAZZ”

A notable theme of Sun’s work is the expression of the people and environment the art lives in. For “Flourish Together,” the rich indigo foundation was chosen as a color that honors and celebrates the different diasporas and cultures of Columbia City. “Pacific Northwest florals, the electric flower, floral imagery bring together nature and music into dance and colors,” Sun explained. “There’s abstract hands that come together at the center of the piece that features them coming together in a clasp, embrace, a sort of acceptance, a fluid representation of community.”

Last summer, Sun was one of three artists to be selected by Amazon Care to paint a mural in Seattle. He chose Columbia City because it represented an intersection of different cultures and the theater itself because of its history and inspiring silhouette. “I just wanted something that would really activate the building and at the same time pay homage to it and be respectful to the brick and the facade.”

The Columbia City Theater was built in 1920, originally as a movie theater. Over the last century, the Rainier Valley venue has been home to live music, comedy shows, burlesque, and other performances.

by Mark Van Streefkerk for the South Seattle Emerald

“Chopsticks in a Bundle are Unbreakable”. So we made art to bring people together and spread a message of solidarity in the neighborhood. I want to thank @tanxnguyenn, my collaborator for our mural @pylonmarket in The CID. We were brought together by the wonderful team of @laurasullivancassidy @joewhinney @thenoumenalworld to create art that wove our personal history, culture, and art practice into something that exceeded our expectations. There were a lot of special moments that took place day and night as we worked. Special thanks to @newienguyen for writing our message in her native Vietnamese so elegantly. Big shout out to @mikewurn who came through a couple of nights and helped trace projections.

We chose red, gold, and black to symbolize the bond between our Vietnamese and Black Diasporas. We payed homage to our people by using both family and historical archival photographs. We bundled together and became stronger. More collaborations ahead with @tanxnguyenn x @soulvenir.co x @moses_sun

“We Stand With Black Lives Matter”. I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with the staff of amazing artists at the Wing Luke Museum. Two weeks ago , @jessieanneruby from @winglukemuseum reached out to collaborate. From our first zoom meeting, I knew we had to work together. It felt like the ancestors had brought us together.

“Where do you stand?” book ends both sides of the mural on King Street, asks the viewer to think about the history of the land Seattle stands on and the current social and political state of Seattle and United States.

We chose the color indigo for the background to symbolize connection to African and Asian Diasporas. After we completed painting the background. I drew the mural with chalk while our group of artists and volunteers traced over with latex paint markers and painted in shapes and text. We also wheat pasted a few of the many people who have stood up for the rights of Asian and African-Americans in Seattle. Lastly, we added a QR code to the 8th Street side and Canton alley sides of the mural to link to resources.

🖤

Thank you to all the staff and volunteers @winglukemuseum for coming together to make this beautiful and meaningful mural. We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, community, and love. And extra love to the people living and working in Chinatown/International District for welcoming me with open arms and hearts. Your good vibes protected us and kept us going.

Seattle, WA 2020

I am part of the Vivid Matter Collective. We are 16 BIPOC artists who came together , June 2020, and created the Seattle Black Lives Matter Mural at Capitol Hill’s Occupied Protest (CHOP) formally known as Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ). Why did we do this? Because every movement needs artistic support. Because we need to amplify this message.

Meditations on Black Life: Post-Obama Pt. 1