She traces the civil rights movement to show how her final monument is a symbolic expression of history, the present, and the future. One of my favorites of course, as it is with many, is the civil rights memorial in montgomery. A memorial to the lingering horror of lynching the new. A video i shot a few years ago in beautiful montgomery, alabama at the civil rights memorial center. Mar 01, 2003 sculptor, architect, and designer maya lin catapulted to prominence when, as a senior at yale university, she was chosen to design the vietnam veterans memorial in washington, d. Born in 1959 in athens, ohio, maya lin catapulted into the public eye when, as a senior at yale university, she submitted the winning design in a national competition for a vietnam veterans memorial to be built in washington, dc.
The film reveals the racism and sexism that were pervasive in this controversy. Building historical and scientific background knowledge. Civil rights memorial, montgomery, alabama library of. A memorial to 40 people who died between 1954 year of brown vs. Nov 07, 2017 maya lin was thrust into the national spotlight when her design for the vietnam veterans memorial in washington, d. Maya lin was still an undergraduate at yale university when she beat out over 1,400 competitors in a competition to design the memorial. A film about the work of the artist most famous for her monuments such as the vietnam memorial wall and the civil rights fountain memorial. Films media group a personal journey with maya lin, artist. Southern poverty law center american organization britannica. Maya lin is an american architect whose two most important works in the 1980s were the vietnam veterans memorial in washington, d. Vietnam veterans memorial by maya lin in her attemptand typical successto address issues prevalent in society, maya lin presents monuments with 10formal clarity, visual reflectiveness, and inviting tactility through mediums 11unprecedented in monumental commemorative art. Topeka board of education and 1968 year of martin luther kings assassination. With its circular design crafted by maya lin, this haunting memorial focuses on 40 martyrs of the civil rights movement. The remarkable story of maya lins vietnam veterans memorial.
She achieved national recognition as a 21yearold undergraduate at yale university when she won a national competition to design the vietnam veterans memorial in washington, d. C the civil rights memorial 1989 in montgomery, alabama. By 1989, when her design for the southern poverty law centers civil rights memorial in montgomery, alabama was completed, maya lin was established as a preeminent architectural designer. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. What is lin s motivation in the civil rights memorial. The vietnam war memorial was one of the most controversial monuments of its time. To better understand much of maya lin s extensive work, background knowledge of certain historical and scientific events are needed. Maya lin has described her winning submission sketches for the 1981 vietnam memorial as very painterly. Maya lin is an american artist, architect, and designer know for many works including the vietnam veterans memorial, the civil rights memorial and the womens table at yale university much of her work reflects modern and historical social and environmental issues.
From the explicitly political to the unashamedly literary to the completely abstract, her simple and powerful sculpturethe rockefeller foundation sculpture, the southern poverty law center civil rights memorial, the yale womens table, wave fieldher architechture. Over the last few decades, she has executed numerous other architectural projects such as private homes, landscape sculptures and other memorials. She feels it is physical in that it comes from the mind through the hands to the surface of the work. The domentary shows lin facing the challenge of dealing with many angry veterans. The film also chronicles other works of lin including the civil rights monument in alabama and the peace circle at juniata college in pennsylvania. The southern poverty law center dedicated the civil rights memorial in montgomery in 1989 to. The film tells the gripping story behind the vietnam memorial and explores a decade of her creative work. Teaching guide with activities and discussion questions. Now, with her new civil rights memorial, which similarly compels visitors to trace out names with their fingertips, lin, 30, has once again created an architectural masterpiece that evokes the. Civil rights memorial montgomery, alabama atlas obscura. She was trained as an artist and architect, and her sculptures, parks, monuments, and architectural projects are. These structures combine elements of nature such as earth and water with written language to express meaning.
Lin s brilliant solution to the problem of engaging the spectator in the course of civil rights events engraved on the monument was the invention of a circular table, covered in a film of water. Maya lin american sculptor and architect britannica. Maya lin biography family, childhood, school, mother, old. Before reading maya lin s biography, separate the class into five groups and assign each group one of these events. Designed and created by maya lin, who also worked on the vietnam veterans memorial in washington, d. Public affairs television becoming american interview with. Synopsis maya lin was born on october 5, 1959, in athens, ohio.
The daughter of intellectuals who had fled china in 1948, lin received a bachelors degree in 1981 from yale university in new haven. Sculptor, architect and designer maya lin catapulted to fame when, as a senior at yale university, she was chosen to design the vietnam veterans memorial in washington, dc. She was awarded the medal of freedom by president barack obama on tuesday, nov. Mar 08, 2016 as the designer of two of americas most powerful monuments the civil rights memorial in montgomery, alabama, and the vietnam memorial in washington, d. Maya lin, american architect and sculptor concerned with environmental themes who is best known for her design of the vietnam veterans memorial in washington, d. Civilrightsmemorialfountain articles, photos and videos. Maya lin host susan stamberg talks to artist maya lin, who designed the vietnam veterans memorial when she was an undergraduate at yale. Maya ying lin born 1959 was an american architect whose two most important works in the 1980s were the vietnam veterans memorial in washington, d. Maya lin is an american architect and sculptor best known for her design of the vietnam veterans memorial in washington, d. An original sketch by 21yearold yale architecture student maya ying lin of the vietnam veterans memorial in washington, d.
Although controversial in its inception, maya lin s vietnam war memorial adequately fulfills the vision of jan scruggs, who returned home wounded from the conflict in southeast asia at the age of 19, for a monument to his fallen comrades in arms that would provide a symbol of acknowledgement of the courage, sacrifice, and devotion to duty of those who were. Maya ying lin was born in 1959 in athens, ohio, a manufacturing and agricultural town 75 miles southeast of columbus. Created by vietnam veterans memorial designer maya lin, the memorial is located across the street from the southern poverty law centers office building in montgomery, alabama, a city rich with civil rights history. Maya lins design of the civil rights memorial, the yale womens table, and the juniata peace chapel reveals her ability to address major issues of our times through the healing power of art. Landscape is the context and the source of inspiration for. Civil rights memorial center crmc was added behind the fountain in 2005. Created by vietnam memorial architect maya lin in 1989, the memorial sits adjacent to the civil rights memorial center, sponsored by the southern poverty law center. Maya lin on the vietnam veterans memorial and beyond. Civil rights memorial center us civil rights trail. Although a yale university graduate with two architecture degrees, lin is widely known more for her artistic memorials and installations than the private residences she has designed as an architect.
She read up on civil rights activities many events had. Nov 11, 2000 maya lin host susan stamberg talks to artist maya lin, who designed the vietnam veterans memorial when she was an undergraduate at yale. This 21yearold college student designed the vietnam. The black granite memorial, designed by architect maya lin, is a contemplative place visited by people from around the world to honor those killed during the struggle for civil rights and equality.
For the civil rights memorial, theres a gap between 1954, you walk. Water emerges from the tables center and flows evenly across the top. Maya lin has maintained a careful balance between art and architecture throughout her career, creating a remarkable body of work that includes largescale sitespecific installations, intimate studio artworks, architectural works and memorials. Sep, 2016 in this milestone video, we feature visual artistdesigner maya lin, who has a long history with the nea, starting with her winning the public design competition for the vietnam veterans memorial. Lin has created evocative memorials, such as the vietnam war memorial in washington d. The documentary chronicles the controversy over lin s design and over her as an asianamerican female architect. Lin s design was inspired by kings we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream line from. What is the site and why is it important in maya lin s vietnam veterans memorial. In 1995, lin completed wave field, at the university of michigan. The competition required drawings, along with the option to include a. Its creator, maya lin, has been nothing less than world famous ever since. Supreme court ruled that racial segregation in schools was unlawful and 1968 is the year of the assassination of martin luther king. Visitors are encouraged to touch the engraved names of the martyrs and reflect on their sacrifices.
See more ideas about maya lin, maya and vietnam veterans memorial. Civil rights memorial 198889 southern poverty law center, montgomery, alabama robert coles, architect. Oct 21, 20 ive captured the civil rights memorial a couple times before, but recently i was asked to take a second look at the local attraction and reshoot both the monument and the center with fresh s. Thrust in to the eye of the storm was architectsculptor maya lin, whose design for the memorial was chosen when. Maya lin on her inspiration for the civil rights memorial on. Discover civil rights memorial in montgomery, alabama. Maya lin, creator of the vietnam veterans memorial, was. Public affairs television becoming american interview with maya lin.
Maya lin was an architecture student at yale when she won the anonymous competition to design and build the viet nam veterans memorial in washington d. Civil rights memorial, montgomery, alabama library of congress. Civil rights memorial center montgomery, usa attractions. Visit her studio page here to see some of her incredible work in 2014, maya lin 5th graders met and interviewed their namesake. Sep 12, 2006 maya lin has worked on art and architectural projects throughout the united states. The civil rights memorial center is currently closed until further notice. Lin played a pivotal role in the creation of the new centurys most highprofile and controversial memorial, serving on the jury of the 911 memorial competition in 2003.
Maya lin on her inspiration for the civil rights memorial. Lin, who now owns and operates maya lin studio in new york city, has designed numerous projects, including the civil rights memorial in montgomery, alabama 1989 and the wave field outdoor installation at the university of michigan 1995. Lin s womens table sculpture at yale university commemorates the. Lin was inspired by both diagrams of fluids in motion and photographs of ocean waves. Autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. The memorial has become one of the most visited places in washington. Lin has created a notable body of work, including a memorial to civil rights in montgomery, ala largescale environmental art, such as her wavefield at storm king art center in new. Artist and architect maya lin is perhaps best known for her memorialsa series that includes the vietnam veterans memorial in washington d.
In 1981, maya rose to fame when she was chosen as the designer of the vietnam veterans memorial in washington, d. Maya lin lets healing waters flow over her civil rights. Title, date, and subjects provided by the photographer. Maya lin, creator of the vietnam veterans memorial, was commissioned to design the monument. Bill moyers talks with her about her upbringing and multifaceted career as well as her most recent project, the civil rights memorial in montgomery, alabama. Touching and painful scenes show hundreds of viet nam vets visiting the wall. Maya ying lin born october 5, 1959 is an american designer, architectural designer, and artist who works in sculpture and land art. As the united states honors those who served in the military on veterans day, read the story of how an unknown 21yearold architecture student, maya lin, designed one of the most moving monuments.
A strong clear vision, written and directed by freida lee mock, tells the story of how lin designed the memorial, and how it came to be built. Montgomery civil rights memorial center revisited water. I got a phone call from the southern poverty law center. Her civil rights memorial in montgomery, alabama was completed in nineteen eightynine. Maya lin recalls the moment of her submission in 1980 for the vietnam veterans memorial. Lin s creative process involves her experience and her natural gifts.
Since setting up her studio in 1987, lin has created both public and private artworks, including the vietnam veterans memorial 1982 in washington, d. Its been called as moving and awesome and popular a piece. The monument was created by maya lin, who is best known for creating the vietnam veterans memorial in washington, d. Where to see really see the art of maya lin the new york. Nov 22, 2016 maya lin is a 2016 recipient of the presidential medal of freedom, the nations highest civilian honor. A 1989 civil rights memorial by maya lin in downtown montgomery offers visitors exhortative words and soothing water. The civil rights memorial, designed by maya lin, is a circular black granite table that chronicles the history of the movement in lines that radiate like the hands of a clock. Martin luther king jr was the most famous, but there were many faceless deaths along the way, both white and african american. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Architect maya lins battle for the freedom of reflection. Lin s civil rights memorial fountain in montgomery, alabama honors 40 people who died in the struggle for civil rights. The names included in the memorial belong to those who were killed between 1954 and 1968. Our 2002 profile of architect maya lin that marked the 20th year of the vietnam memorial. The inspiration for maya lin s design of the civil rights memorial in montgomery, alabama was we shall not be satisfied until justice flows like waters and righteousness like a might stream from martin luther kings i have a dream speech.
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