Sarah May, a Salt Lake City artist, has her cyanotype tapestries on display in the west galleries. These tapestries, hung near the north windows, are inspired by the Great Salt Lake’s shores. May started creating these pieces during her artist residency at the Center for Photography in Woodstock, New York. The tapestries incorporate images representing individuals from her ancestral lines, embodying the concept of the Ancestress.
In 2023, May expanded her tapestry work, introducing a new direction. She produced two pieces for a vigil for the Great Salt Lake, which she views as a home and sacred space. The lake is represented as an ancestress in this larger body of work, signifying her strong connection to it.
May has also been involved in a community vigil for the Great Salt Lake at the Utah Capitol during the 35×35 exhibition. This vigil involves a group of citizens gathering daily to honor the lake and advocate for state legislative action. The vigil includes morning processions with tapestries and evening celebrations with participants dressed as lake species.