She spent a ‘Lost Weekend’ with John Lennon. Her rare photos will show in Fresno

In the lore of John Lennon’s life, May Pang was the other woman; as in, not Yoko Ono.

This was during a period of 18 months, starting in 1973, when Lennon was separated from Ono and Pang became his companion and lover. And also an unofficial documentarian of sorts.

“I was living with this guy, John,” Pang said in an interview with The Bee, in advance of “The Lost Weekend,” a photography exhibit that runs 2-8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the K-Jewel Art Gallery in Fresno. “Not John the Beatle, or John, the celebrity.”

The photos, 38 prints culled from hundreds that Pang kept in storage under her bed, offer a candid look at Lennon during one of his most productive periods post Beatles. It was a personal and creative renaissance and Pang was there as a witness and collaborator. She’s listed as a member of 44th Street Fairies, which did backing vocals on Lennon’s album “Walls And Bridges.” It is Pang’s voice we hear whispering on the song “#9 Dream.”

Among highlights of the exhibit are:

• Rare images from Lennon’s Santa Monica beach house, which he shared at the time with Harry Nilsson, Ringo Starr and The Who drummer Keith Moon.
• One of the last known photographs of Lennon and Paul McCartney, taken March 29, 1974.
• The only photograph of Lennon signing the legal documents officially dissolving the Beatles. It was signed over a Christmas holiday in Florida. Pang only took the photo at Lennon’s coaxing.
• A photo of Lennon’s son Julian as a boy. It would ultimately become the cover of the songwriter’s 2022 album “Jude.”

“I’ve been privy to so many iconic moments. I didn’t even realize it at the time,” Pang says.

Mostly, the photos show Lennon outside the fame.

Here, we see Lennon, holding his cats, or in bed “just laying there watching television.” He is eating his favorite hot and sour soup his nose running from the spice.

“There’s no pretension,” Pang says.

“It’s him at home,” she says.

“At home and happy.”

Documentary screening in San Luis Obispo

The Fresno exhibition is one of three California stops Pang is making to coincide with the digital release of the documentary “The Lost Weekend – A Love Story.” The feature-length film was originally released in 2022 and chronicles the couple’s relationship at the time. It serves as context for the photo exhibition, she says.

The film will screen Thursday night at the Palm Theatre in San Luis Obispo as part of the city’s International Film Festival. Pang will be in attendance for a live audience Q and A following the film. The photo exhibit will run, Friday through Sunday at the EDNA Contemporary Gallery on Osos Street.

Rare photo prints for sale

All the images from the exhibit will be available for sale as fine art prints, which Pang will sign during meets-and-greets at the galleries in Fresno and San Luis Obispo. For fans, it’s a rare opportunity to hear about Lennon from someone who knew him intimately.

“With each photo there is a story,” Pang says.

“I give them a little bit more of the story.”