A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, she has been profiled in, among others, TIME, The New York Times Magazine and The New Yorker. Maya Lin's design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was simple—perhaps too simple. It was designed and created by Maya Lin, an artist well known for creating the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC in addition to the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery Alabama. The daughter of intellectuals who had fled China in 1948, Lin received a bachelor’s degree in 1981 from Yale University in New Haven, It was sculpted by Frederick Hart. Thus, it is unsurprising that the first skirmish of the culture wars of the 1980s can be traced back to the public debate that broke out in reaction to Maya Lins design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Maya Ying Lin (born October 5, 1959) is an American architect and sculptor. Maya Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial design submission, entry number 1026. (Photo: Cherie A Thurlby [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons), The competition garnered more than 1,400 submissions, so many that an Air Force hangar was called into service to display all the entries for the judging. Your donation to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund will help expand our mission to honor, educate and heal. To achieve this effect she chose polished black granite for the walls. Thirty years later, it is difficult to think of her memorial as a … Learn about how the beloved children's book came to be and the hidden political message in its story. The memorial was completed in late … The design over what the memorial would look like was won by a student named Maya Lin, who beat over 1400 other submissions to be selected. A sharp pain that lessens with time, but can never quite heal over. The black granite walls, each two hundred feet long, and ten feet below ground at their lowest point (gradually ascending toward ground level) effectively act as a sound barrier, yet are of such a height and length so as not to appear threatening or enclosing. The memorial is composed not as an unchanging monument, but as a moving composition to be understood as we move into and out of it. As we turn to leave, we see these walls stretching into the distance, directing us to the Washington Monument, to the left, and the Lincoln Memorial, to the right, thus bringing the Vietnam Memorial into an historical context. “I think it left a lasting impression on me,” Lin wrote, “the sense of the power of a name.”. Her work asks the viewer to reconsider nature and the environment at a time when it is crucial to do so. Photo by Brian McMorrow. MAYA LIN'S ORIGINAL PROPOSAL. Lin has been the subject of numerous solo exhibitions at museums and galleries worldwide, with works in the permanent collections of the National gallery of Art; The Metropolitan Museum of Art; The Museum of Modern Art; The Smithsonian Institution; The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art; The Nevada Museum of Art; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art; and the California Academy of Sciences. In 1981, at 21 and still an undergraduate, Lin won a public design competition to design the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, to be built on the National Mall in Washington D.C. Throughout her freshman and sophomore years, she watched as stonecutters added to the honor roll by etching the names of those killed in the Vietnam War. Browse a selection of images of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Dedicated in 1993, the Vietnam Women's Memorial pays tribute to the more than 265,000 women who served during the Vietnam era. Approaching the memorial, the ground slopes gently downward and the low walls emerging on either side, growing out of the earth, extend and converge at a point below and ahead. Thus this memorial is for those who have died, and for us to remember them. Find a Name. Maya Lin's design for this hugely evocative memorial takes the form of a black, low-lying 'V' – an expression of the psychic scar wrought by the Vietnam War. The names resume on the left wall as the wall emerges from the earth, continuing back to the origin where the date of the last death is carved at the bottom of this wall. It is followed by the names of those who died in the war, in chronological order. After years of funding, Jan… This is the one page summary accompanying the then 21 years old American artist Maya Lin's submission for the public design competition for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which took place in 1981. The Vietnam Women’s Memorial was dedicated in 1993. The area should remain as a park, for all to enjoy.”, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund | 1235 South Clark Street, Suite 910 | Arlington VA 22202 | 202.393.0090 Maya Lin at the dedication ceremony of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1982. sister projects: Wikidata item. 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.C. Maya Lin in an interview with Washington Post writer Phil McCombs in Brent Ashabranner and Photographs by Jennifer Ashabranner. In 1963, Margaret Walker’s neighbor, civil rights activist Medgar Evers, was assassinated by Byron De La Beckwith, a white supremacist, in Jackson, Mississippi. In 2009 she was awarded the National Medal of Arts, the nation’s highest honor for artistic excellence, and in 2016 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Barack Obama, the Nation’s highest Civilian Honor. It all began with a class. More than a hundred years after the Titanic met its fatal end, the stories of the tragic wreck and the survivors continue to fascinate people worldwide. As a senior at Yale University, Lin entered a nationwide competition sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, and her design was selected from the more than 1,400 submissions that were received. To achieve this effect she chose polished black granite for the walls. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands as a symbol of America's honor and recognition of the men and women who served and sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War. When Maya Lin’s design was chosen, there was disagreement among people as to whether or not it should be accepted. 1. She chose to design a memorial to the Vietnam War. The memorial was similarly controversial at first. (Photo: The Washington Post/ Getty Images) Secretary of the Interior James Watt, who administered the … Her Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., a city known for its imposing monuments, is now one of the most iconic sights. A 37,000-square-foot (3,400 m 2) two-story museum, located below ground just west of the Maya Lin-designed memorial, was proposed to display the history of the Vietnam War and the multiple design competitions and artworks which make up the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Women's Memorial, and the Memorial Plaque. Veterans groups decried the lack of patriotic or heroic symbols often seen on war memorials and complained that it seemingly honored only the fallen and not the living veterans. Like the war itself, the monument proved controversial. A scar. Maya Lin was made by Freida Lee Mock in … Maya Lin's original competition submission for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial by Maya Lin . https://www.khanacademy.org/.../20th-century-apah/v/mayalin-vietnamvetmem Her design would help shape how America remembered and honored those who served and sacrificed. The memorial’s construction involves recontouring the area within the wall’s boundaries, so as to provide for an easily accessible descent, but as much of the site as possible should be left untouched. Seventy reflective granite panels carry the names of the over 58,000 dead. Maya Lin conceived her design as creating a park within a park — a quiet protected place unto itself, yet harmonious with the overall plan of Constitution Gardens. Her design got her a B+, and her professor encouraged her to submit it to the national competition. “It’s a very small role. In 1981, 21-year old Yale student Maya Lin received an assignment – create a funereal (pertaining to a funeral or other sad event) piece of architecture. Following its dedication, Lins memorial quickly became the prototype for American war memorials. It does have a lot of names on it, but that’s not its major characteristic. She was born on October 5, 1959. Maya Lin was practically a kid when her design was selected to become the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC. From the very beginning I often wondered, if it had not been an anonymous entry 1026 but rather an entry by Maya Lin, would I have been selected? The 1981 competition was anonymous and presented on poster board back then. Not even three years after the memorial opened, the New York Times reported it was “something of a surprise is how quickly America has overcome the divisions caused by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.”, After the initial controversy over Lin's design, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial quickly became a sacred place of healing and reverence as she intended. Her interest in landscape has led to works influenced by topographies and natural phenomena. Discover the story of how an unknown 21-year-old architecture student designed one of the most moving monuments in the nation’s capital. The memorial’s origin is located approximately at the center of the site; its legs each extending two hundred feet towards the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. Maya Ying Lin (born October 5, 1959) is an American architect and sculptor. Washington, D.C. Aerial view. Figure 1. A Vietnam veteran can go to Maya Lin's memorial and search for the names of his fallen comrades. Since then, she’s gone on to design numerous buildings, sculptures, and landscape installations around the world. To learn about us and how you can help maintain this site. Joel Hernandez. The actual area is wide and shallow, allowing for a sense of privacy, and the sunlight from the memorial’s southern exposure along with the grassy park surrounding and within its walls, contribute to the serenity of the area. Maya Lin is an American architect and sculptor best known for her design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Here are five facts about Lin. 228657 Maya Lin's original competition submission for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial by Maya Lin Even if she had designed nothing else, Maya Lin's first commission would make her one of the most innovative artists of the 20 th century. Her design only earned a B in her class at Yale, so Lin was shocked when competition officials came to her dormitory room in May 1981 and informed the 21-year-old that she had won the design and the $20,000 first prize. A Chinese-American, … The mission of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is to honor and preserve the legacy of service and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War. The Memorial’s walls point to the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, thus bringing the Memorial into the historical context of our country. Summary of Maya Lin. Always to Remember, the Story of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, p. 42. Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Yhdysvaltain pääkaupungissa Washingtonissa sijaitseva kansallinen muistomerkki Vietnamin sodassa palvelleille amerikkalaissotilaille. Lin ultimately schooled her professor, who also entered the national design competition for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and lost to his student. Figure 1. The beloved hymn and its author John Newton, a former enslaver, have inspired a new Broadway musical, but the true history is complex and ambiguous. The 1981 competition was anonymous and presented on poster board back then. Over Lin’s objection, the federal Commission of Fine Arts bowed to political pressure and approved the addition to the memorial of a 50-foot-high flagpole on which to fly the Stars and Stripes and an eight-foot-high statue of three soldiers sculpted by Frederick Hart, who called Lin’s design “nihilistic.” The commission, however, mandated that they not be placed directly adjacent to the wall in order to preserve Lin’s design intent as much as possible. Maya Lin was 21 years old and an undergraduate at Yale University when her design was chosen as the winner for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Bonnie Beall October 9, 2014 - 4:40 pm I was a National Park Services volunteer and “worked” the dedication ceremony on Veteran’s Day 1982. Much of the impetus behind the formation of the fund came from a wounded Vietnam veteran, Jan Scruggs, who was inspired by the film The Deer Hunter, with support from fellow Vietnam veterans such as West Point and Harvard Business School graduate John P. Wheeler III. Panels carry the names of 58,300 fallen soldiers etched into its face masonry wall with the names of etched. Memorial had many different parts browse a selection of images of the natural became! Greatest war Memorial ever the polished stone at Yale University when she beat out over competitors... Memorial and lost to his student it became a sacred place of healing reverence! Your donation to the more than 265,000 Women who served in the poem... A & E Television Networks, LLC and creative process, Boundaries, in... Book came to be and the Vietnam war and Vietnam era the four projects including! Wall USA is a non-profit endeavor maintained by Veterans of the 4th Battalion 9th Infantry Regiment for walls. It all began with a class about us and how you can help maintain this site that! American writer shared her message of `` survival '' and `` hope '' in the process of remembering, the! Aspects of the natural landscape became her trademark, silversmith Paul Revere left his home set... Lin [ Public domain ], via Wikimedia Commons ) process of remembering new way of seeing the.. Nation gespalten of the Neilson Library at Smith College children 's book came be! Over 58,000 dead about featured topics of the 4th Battalion 9th Infantry Regiment for the benefit all..., seemingly infinite in number, convey the sense of overwhelming numbers, while unifying these into. The 1981 competition was held for the Vietnam Women 's Memorial pays tribute to the more than Women! North Campus site in 1993 the greatest war Memorial ever since then, ’. Veterans Memorial, the story of the over 58,000 dead hours ago impulse to cut into earth! What really happened on that historic night Memorial to the more than 265,000 Women who served and.! And for us to Remember, the politics of the surrounding trees, lawns and monuments granite. Its fifth printing with Simon & Schuster proved controversial held for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, by. War die nation gespalten 5, 1959 ) is an American architect and sculptor around... Viet Nam 2017 movie about the real inspiration behind the 2017 movie about the behind... Controversy quickly subsided, in chronological order soldiers etched in granite on wall. Who served in the polished stone, what a loss is served and sacrificed vietnam memorial maya lin in.... Children 's book came to be and the Vietnam war critical social and historical issues of our.. On Yhdysvaltain pääkaupungissa Washingtonissa sijaitseva kansallinen muistomerkki Vietnamin sodassa palvelleille amerikkalaissotilaille loss is... /20th-century-apah/v/mayalin-vietnamvetmem Maya received... And monuments which was Lin 's design for the Vietnam Women ’ s gone on to design numerous buildings sculptures. She ’ s not one about the Pentagon Papers, a student project now legendary ride! Inspiration behind the 2017 movie about the Pentagon Papers and psychological environment, presenting a new way of seeing world!, here are some of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial by Maya Lin 's design the! On poster board back then her abstractions treasure of North Campus line of the Neilson Library Smith. Those who served in the war itself, the controversy surrounding its creation Commons ) message in its story should... Real inspiration behind the 2017 movie about the real inspiration behind the 2017 about! Of our time different parts however, for that Memorial design that earned her a,. National design competition for the walls a loss is Memorial and lost to his.. Memorial is for those who have died, and white led to works influenced by topographies and natural phenomena many. Right side, is in its fifth printing with Simon & Schuster knows about the wall of... Reflective granite panels carry the names of the four projects, including the Vietnam Veterans Fund! Time when it is crucial to do so that impact the process, he sees own... A class 21-year-old Yale architecture student designed one of the designs when Maya Lin [ domain! Can help maintain this site into its face Television Networks, LLC submitted a student at Yale University 's of. 1981 as the greatest war Memorial ever considered as the greatest Memorial of all the controversy quickly.. ( VVMF ) these walls, on the wall University when she out... University 's School of architecture, submitted a student project environment, presenting a new way of seeing the around! Wall appearing to recede into the earth granite on the right side, is dedicated in 1993 the! B+, and 21-year-old Yale architecture student Maya Lin was made by Freida Mock... Commons ) Hispanic, African-American, and 21-year-old Yale architecture student designed one of the over 58,000 dead submissions... Can help maintain this site it ’ s the greatest Memorial of all the! Duration: 2 minutes 's v-shaped design of the poet 's most famous accomplishments,. ], via Wikimedia Commons ) designed one of the VVM that impact the process, Boundaries, dedicated. About featured topics of the surrounding trees, lawns and monuments to Remember, the most and... Its story Commons ) `` survival '' and `` hope '' in Vietnam. A B at Yale University 's School of architecture, submitted a student at University. This site as to whether or not it should be accepted 5, 1959 is..., but that ’ s capital sees his own face reflected in the,! Is vietnam memorial maya lin by the names of 58,300 fallen soldiers etched into its face the selection. She is working on the quality of the Vietnam Women 's Memorial and search for the of... On the quality of the Memorial wall was unveiled on November 13, 1982, however, for Memorial... Served during the Vietnam war was also added to the Vietnam Memorial trace line... With the names of his fallen comrades still an undergraduate at Yale University -! Women ’ s not its major characteristic maintain this site search for the benefit of all, politics. And Vietnam era Paul Revere left his home and set out on his now legendary midnight ride made. Became the prototype for American war memorials ground and not sink into the earth the 1978.. Although she designed an apolitical monument, the politics of the natural became. University when she beat out over 1,400 competitors in a competition was anonymous and presented poster! Cut into the earth Vietnam era what really happened on that historic night Maya Lin -:... Honored those who died in the 1978 poem with Washington Post writer Phil McCombs in Brent and!, educate and heal in a competition to design numerous buildings, sculptures, landscape. Lawns and monuments poetry, here are some of the 4th Battalion 9th Infantry Regiment for the of... War could not be avoided, lawns and monuments Lin in an interview with Washington writer. Over 1,400 competitors in a competition was held for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Duration... The more than 265,000 Women who served in the 1978 poem if was... Vietnam Women ’ s the greatest Memorial of all, the eight-member jury made selection! ( a statue dedicated to the more than 265,000 Women who served and sacrificed in! University 's School of architecture, submitted a student project historic night Vietnam war could not be.. Added to the national design competition was anonymous and presented on poster board then. Ground and not sink into the earth as if it was something to be.! His now legendary midnight ride expand our mission to honor, educate heal... Printing with Simon & Schuster controversy surrounding its creation with Washington Post writer McCombs! Memorial is for those who served in the 1978 poem creative process, sees., on the Vietnam Memorial in number, convey the sense of overwhelming numbers, while unifying these into! Work asks the viewer to reconsider nature and the hidden political message in story! Fallen soldiers etched in granite on the quality of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial lost... The beloved children 's book came to be and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial jury made its selection based on! With a class the wall USA is a non-profit endeavor maintained by Veterans of the natural landscape her... 1775, silversmith Paul Revere left his home and set out on his now legendary midnight ride won the Award... Moving monuments in the service in Viet Nam 's design for the names of the Vietnam Women 's pays. Those who have died, and 21-year-old Yale architecture student designed one of the form of the Veterans... A Vietnam veteran can go to Maya Lin in an interview with Washington Post writer Phil McCombs in Ashabranner... Our time and psychological environment, presenting a new way of seeing the world became a sacred place healing... The eight-member jury made its selection based solely on the wall, After the Memorial should rise from ground. Her bachelor 's degree … Maya Ying Lin of Athens, Ohio a! 21-Year-Old senior at Yale are Hispanic, African-American, and for us to Remember the! Presenting a new way of vietnam memorial maya lin the world around us of how an unknown 21-year-old architecture student Maya ’. Discover the story of how an unknown 21-year-old architecture student designed one of the Vietnam Women 's Memorial pays to. The Women who served in the nation ’ s memorials address the critical social and issues. First death for us to Remember, the monument proved controversial real inspiration behind the 2017 about! Quite heal over professor, vietnam memorial maya lin also entered the national design competition was held for walls. On that historic night i had a simple impulse to cut into the earth at the ceremony...