I have been a Maya Lin fan for a long time… reading bits of articles and seeing images of hers here and there. But I finally got a chance to really learn about her vision and her work. Maya Lin is the artist and architect who, at the tender age of 21, built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., a work that was initially very controversial but has since been visited by so many who feel the power of such an understated piece that dealt with the real issues, not the politics…

After that, she went on to build many nationally acclaimed monuments, such as the
Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery AL, and the Wave Field in Ann Arbor MI.

I highly recommend reading the book, and watching the documentary movie about her (sort of a self-portrait), if you’re wanting some thoughtful inspiration. The book was wonderful, in that it gave you a very round picture of all the thought that goes into her work. Such strong concepts, not muddied by the end form. The final pieces are so simple — and that’s all they need to be. No embellishments or flourishes. Just a solid-form thought. I love that.

The movie, then, was sort of a supplement to the book, showing the works in progress and interviews with Lin.

For me, learning about her work and her thought process was very inspirational because of the courage it must have taken to be strong in the face of such controversy with the Vietnam Memorial. And then to move on from there with a still, clear vision of what her work should say. I have so much respect for that.

I hope you’ll enjoy learning about her too.