Maya Lin Vietnam Memorial

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Maya Lin Maya Lin is a Chinese American who was born in Athens, Ohio on October 5, 1959. She grew up within a distinguished family of anti-Communist politicians that originate from Beijing, China. Both of her parents worked at Ohio University-her father the former dean of fine arts and mother a professor of Asian literature. Maya was more of a private child during her childhood and spent most her pastime doing more solitary activities- like hiking and reading. She also experienced with other artistic medias- like silver smithing and bronze casting. She was an incredibly intelligent student during her high school years and graduated as the co-valedictorian in high school. She continued her education at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut …show more content…

She submitted a design for a national competition for a Vietnam Veterans Memorial as her senior thesis project in 1981. The competition was incredibly tough because of the other 1,400 designs from all around the United States being proposed (Lin). This memorial was a monumental project for both the United States and Maya Lin because it was incredibly controversial. There was a great moral conflict within the American citizens about America’s military involvement in Asia. Controversy surrounded the memorial because there was mixed feelings towards American involvement in the Vietnam War. The memorial had great social significance because war veterans from Vietnam were being marginalized and treated like criminals when they returned, instead of honorable men who helped fight for the common good. The Vietnam War created many societal problems and the Memorial was an important first step towards healing the wounds and appreciating veterans for their service for the common good (Maya Lin). She won this important competition and designed a beautiful Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., which was a monumental time of Maya Lin’s …show more content…

Maya Lin has received countless awards for her creativity and genius. Following her receiving her master’s degree, Yale University presented her with an honorary doctorate, which only goes to its most distinguished graduates. Later in 1988, she received the Presidential Design Award for her prized Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This time was a pivotal time of Lin’s life, when she decided to move to New York City and set up a studio to further her work by working on more architectural designs and culture. For years, she rejected the idea of working on another memorial. But in 1988 another opportunity arose. The Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Alabama, asked her to design in remembrance of people who died in the civil rights movement. At first, Lin was surprised that this opportunity was presented to her. She accepted this opportunity and began her work on the memorial. She used Martin Luther King Jr. was her inspiration and found great importance in the quote, "We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream" (Lin). Lin was successful in her building of this monument and created an environment that inspired activists to help create an era of equality in American society that the civil rights movement worked so hard for (Lin). Another incredibly important accomplishment that

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