Award-winning artist, architect and environmental activist Maya Lin – who received the National Medal of Arts in 2009 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor, in 2016 – will be at the Hudson River Museum for “An Evening with Maya Lin,” a special lecture and discussion about her work and the exhibition “Maya Lin: A River Is a Drawing,” on view at the Hudson River Museum from Oct. 12 to Jan. 20.
Discover how and why the exhibition came to be in the context of Lin’s commitment to environmental issues, and her uniquely aesthetic approach to data visualization in her sculptures, installations, land art, monuments, and architectural work. This is the first lecture in a robust season of public programs that address issues such as climate change; the conservation, protection, and biodiversity of the Hudson River; environmental racism; and food justice. Learn more at hrm.org/programs.
Recognized as one of the most innovative artists working today, Lin (born 1959) was first introduced to international audiences at age 21 with the 1982 Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. This seminal work stands as one of the most powerful memorials of our time and reveals the elements of art that have defined Lin’s remarkable career in sculpture and earthworks, architecture and memorials.
She has continued to produce works that create a seamless connection to the land and an intimate and emotional connection to the viewer. Lin’s work has been the subject of solo museum exhibitions, and she has created outdoor installations for public and private collections from New York to New Zealand
Other events and programs at the Hudson River Museum include:
“The Hudson River Up Close: Kayaking,” sponsored by the Yonkers Paddling & Rowing Club on Saturday, Oct. 13 from1 to 4 p.m. Learn kayaking basics from experienced guides in the cove at JFK Marina next to the Hudson River Museum. For ages 6 and older. No experience is required.
A curator’s tour of “Maya Lin: A River Is a Drawing” with Miwako Tezuka on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. Get an in-depth look at this exhibit with a guest curator who will guide you through the artist’s site-specific installations in a variety of media, from bamboo reeds to glass industrial marbles, all created in response to the Hudson River.
During “Citizen Science: Cleaning Up Our Waterways” on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 1:30 p.m., Dan Shapley, water quality program director at Riverkeeper, talks about the grassroots foundations of the Riverkeeper movement and its mission. Riverkeeper and dozens of community scientists are working to restore and protect local waterways. Learn how this data is collected and ways you can contribute to improving water quality.
