maya lin-a strong clear vision

picture i took at snoqualmie falls

No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
-Martin Luther King Jr.

I am pretty obsessed with documentaries and recently watched one called Maya Lin-A strong Clear Vision

it is about Maya Lin, the architect who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial while still an undergrad at Yale University. I don't know a lot about architecture, although I love observing it and often design structures in my head. it was really intriguing to hear Maya Lin's thought process behind her design, that to many was "far too simple" to commemorate the lives of those lost in battle. i have been to the memorial twice and each time it took the words from my mouth and the air from my lungs. the story of the wall had been shared briefly but i distinctly remember when the guide explained that Maya Lin had envisioned a cut deep into the earth... and it seemed to resonate...that when the earth bleeds we all do. and while war is man made,unlike mother nature, it's destruction still changes landscapes both externally and internally. the memorial created a space and visual that allowed someone like me, who hasn't lost a loved one in battle, or fought in one personally, to recognize that i am not immune to the aftermath. we all carry the weight of a loss...the nation and the world.... soo many names covering a wall is still hard to believe. no weight was placed on whether one was a lieutenant or sergeant-it further explained the deeper meaning of life.
it is that attention to detail that really impressed me. maya lin grew up in ohio. her parents were professors at a university. many discriminated against her and were insulted that the memorial was being designed by an asian... the psychology of how people handle situations is so intriguing to me. many gave her blessings, which gave me hope again. her interpretation far surpassed the egoic side of our pain and anger.
to extend this point further, she also designed a gorgeous civil rights monument, a time period she admits not knowing much about. but she studied and researched and as she was reading martin luther king jr's "i have a dream" speech was instantly inspired by the quote above. she knew water would be involved. and during the film, when you see people circling the memorial, their hands touching the surface, you realize how important water is to the effectiveness of the experience. the water is alive and of us; she truly captured the ebb and flow of history.

i don't know maya lin personally but truly appreciate her willingness to recognize the brilliance and power of understated beauty. i understand wanting to memorialize in a grand fashion. a giant statue or towering building....but to see something that holds its place in time that allows you to come at your own will...with no known expectations is fascinating to me. i stood near the wall and saw myself in its reflection. as did those standing near me. and i could not pretend we aren't connected-- in one way or another-- and i was grateful to be able to say a prayer for the names in front of me and all of those they were connected to.

**all photos found on web