Dorktales Storytime

Maya Lin, Hidden Hero of History

Jonathan Cormur Season 5 Episode 91

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Uncover the life of Maya Lin, the visionary artist and architect behind one of the most visited memorials in America. Her parents were Chinese immigrants, both accomplished in their own artistic fields. Growing up, they supported her pursuits and encouraged her to always follow her passions. At just 21, Maya won a national design competition to create the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C—a reflective black granite wall engraved with the names of fallen soldiers. Throughout her career, Maya Lin continues to have an impact on important social and environmental issues through her work. That’s the power of her art!

This episode includes brief discussions about heavier topics including war and loss.

Go to the episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/maya-lin/         

Get a free activity guide on Maya Lin: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep91freePDF

Learn about more Asian American and Pacific Islander hidden heroes of history: https://jonincharacter.com/kids-podcast-playlist-for-aapi-heritage-month/

CREDITS: Hidden Heroes of History is a Jonincharacter production. Today’s story was written by Rebecca Cunningham, edited and produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Studio Recordings.

We're fans of the new children's book, Fail-A-Bration, by New York Times bestselling authors Brad and Kristi Montague. Check it out: https://montagueworkshop.com/failabration 

Did you hear Redge's secret message after the credits? Let Redge know what you think by texting (it's one way) or emailing dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com (if you want to hear back from him)

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REACH OUT!

Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!

JONATHAN CORMUR: Hello Dork Squad. I'm Jonathan Cormur and you're listening to Dorktales Storytime, the podcast for kids and their pop culture-loving grown-ups, and this is an inspiring story about a hidden hero of history.

 

THEME SONG: It's a beautiful day for a story, adventure and glory, new friends and old ones too. It's an excellent day to get swept away in a tail, so let us regale you.

 

Hey listeners! A quick message before you hear the story of this incredible hero of history: this episode includes brief discussions about heavier topics including war and loss. 

 

We hear the wind in the trees. It’s a very peaceful day. 

 

REDGE
 (Takes a big breath in.) You’re right, Jonathan. There’s nothing like a little stroll through nature to revitalize my spirits. Look at these tall and majestic pine trees!

 

JONATHAN

Aren’t they incredible? There’s something about The Folktale Forest. It’s so peaceful. Just listen to that breeze in the trees.

 

A breeze for them to take it all in. 

 

REDGE

Delightful. 

 

REDGE

Who-who is making that sound? Could that be an owl? But it’s daytime. You specifically told me owls were nocturnal.

 

JONATHAN

Oh, look! Up in that pine tree. It’s our dear friend Dr. Featherman the owl. (To Doctor Featherman) Hello, Doc! 

 

REDGE:

Oh, thank goodness. Hey, what’s up doc?

 

DR. FEATHERMAN 

Why, hello there Jonathan and Mr. Redge. How are you two?
 
 REDGE
 Just fine. Enjoying this beautiful day. What are you doing up, this time of day?

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

I have been busy, busy, busy. There’s no time for rest. I’m flying from appointment to appointment taking care of all the animals of the forest. 

 

REDGE

What’s happening, Dr. Featherman? 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

You know that dragon that lives nearby?

 

JONATHAN

Smogg the Dragon, yes. 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

He’s lovely but when he takes his naps in the forest he breathes out a hot fiery gas.

 

REDGE

That doesn’t sound good.

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

It’s not. The trees here in the forest work really hard to keep the ecosystem happy. With all the dragon’s breath, they have to work overtime and that makes them unhappy. If the trees are unhappy, it creates a glitch in the ecosystem.

 

JONATHAN

What sort of glitch?
 
 DR. FEATHERMAN

The Dragon’s Breath Glitch. Instead of sunny days and gentle breezes, there are sudden rainstorms. It snows when it’s meant to be warm. The flowers aren't sure when to bloom and the animals don’t know which way is up or down. The rabbits sneeze and the bears have rumbly tummies. The Folktale Forest doctors cannot keep up with everyone who is flocking to see them. 

 

REDGE

Heh. Good joke. Flocking. Because you’re an owl. I get it. I’m very good at humor.
 
 JONATHAN

Yes but that all sounds terrible. Certainly Smogg should nap somewhere else and this will all be solved. 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN 

But doesn’t Smogg deserve a place to nap? If we asked him to go somewhere else, his dragon’s breath would just affect another ecosystem. 

 

JONATHAN 

I guess that’s true. You know I think there might be someone who knows a solution to this problem we have. Can I tell you about her?

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

Please do. I love listening to stories and I could use a break.

 

REDGE

I feel another Hidden Heroes of History coming on!

 

JONATHAN

You betcha, Redge.

 

REDGE

Marvelous. Allow me to get comfortable, my good man. 

 

JONATHAN

(clears throat) Our next Hidden Hero of History is–

 

Trumpet sound

 

Maya Lin! She is an architect, designer, environmentalist, and artist. She was born in Athens, Ohio and grew up in a beautiful little house surrounded by trees, a lot like these. 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

How lovely.

 

JONATHAN

As a kid, she’d spend her days exploring the woods and its inhabitants. 

 

REDGE

Who were the inhabitants?
 
 JONATHAN

Deer, rabbits, raccoons. None of them could talk like they can here, of course, but she loved them just the same. She loved all of nature, actually. A love that has stayed with her her whole life.

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

Well, I love a person who has a love for nature.

 

REDGE

Here, here, Dr. Featherman. 

 

JONATHAN

Maya is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Her father Henry was a ceramicist, that’s someone who makes ceramics and pottery. Her mother Julia was a poet. 

 

REDGE

Well I know it! That’s someone who makes poems. 

 

JONATHAN

Well done, Redge. They were the only Chinese family in all of Athens, Ohio. While Maya did experience a bit of bullying because of this, her parents were always very encouraging of her and her brother growing up. They motivated them to follow their pursuits and do what they loved doing. It made Maya believe she could do anything, as long as she was passionate about it.

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

And she was passionate about nature!

 

JONATHAN

She was but her parents also passed down a love for art. So she found another true passion– architecture!

 

REDGE

Jonathan, could you remind us of what architecture is, please? (Exaggerated) I mean I know what it is, of course, but let’s give Dr. Featherman a chance to understand. 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

Well I kn–

 

JONATHAN

(Exaggerated) –Oh uh – sure. Of course, Redge. I’m happy to inform … Doctor … Featherman. 

 

An architect is someone who designs buildings, structures, and spaces. They have to be whip smart to know the proper measurements for the structure that will be built, and super talented so they know how to make it look beautiful. 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

I imagine Maya is both whip smart and super talented. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JONATHAN

She is! Maya attended Yale University, a top-notch school in the United States. While she was at school, she saw a poster to enter a competition to design the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial. The memorial was going to be built in honor of the many soldiers who had lost their lives in the Vietnam War. 

 

REDGE

The Vietnam War?

 

JONATHAN

Yes, Redge. The Vietnam War was a conflict that happened in a country called Vietnam in the continent of Asia from 1955-1975. The United States of America fought in that war.

 

DR. FEATHERMAN
 That’s twenty years of fighting! 

 

JONATHAN

Yes, Doctor. It was a very long time and it affected a lot of people. Many people were lost, including over 58,000 United States soldiers. 

 

REDGE

Oh my goodness. That makes me feel quite sad. 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

I’m feeling sad myself. 

 

JONATHAN

It’s okay to be sad about that. War is a sad-making thing. It’s important to remember that we don’t need to hurt each other to peacefully resolve a problem. We can be angry and still take the time to listen to the person we disagree with. 

 

REDGE

War or violence should never be the answer!

 

JONATHAN
 I agree with you wholeheartedly, Redge. The Veterans War Memorial was a way to honor the lives of the American soldiers. Maya submitted her design to the contest. And at the young age of twenty-one, she was chosen. 
 
 

DR. FEATHERMAN

Incredible! What did her design look like? 

 

JONATHAN
 Oh, it’s beautiful. 

REDGE

Have you seen it? 

 

JONATHAN

Yes, I’ve actually gone to Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, to see it myself. It’s a 493 foot long wall in the shape of a V. 

 

DR.FEATHERMAN

493 feet. That’s about five very tall pine trees. Like the one I’m perched in right now. 
 
 

REDGE

That’s quite long, I’d say.  

 

JONATHAN

It is. The wall is made of black granite and you can see your reflection as you walk up to it. Engraved all along the wall are the names of each U.S. soldier who was lost in the war. To this day, it is one of the most visited memorials in the United States of America. 

 

REDGE

Incredible. 

 

JONATHAN
 When we think of war, we think of something big, and loud, and scary. Maya designed something that brings quiet and calm. It allows for anyone who walks up to it to have a peaceful moment to reflect.


 DR. FEATHERMAN

Jonathan, Maya was so young when she designed that memorial. What did she do after that? 
 
 JONATHAN

After the memorial was dedicated, Maya went back to Yale and one of her professors told her, “Maya, you have to make a choice. You can’t do both art and architecture. You have to choose one.”  

 

REDGE

That hardly seems fair. I’ve studied many things at once! Hedgehogian History, The Evolution of the Hedgehog, Quill-osophy–

 

JONATHAN

Don’t worry, Redge. She chose both and more. 

 

REDGE

Well done, Maya. 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN 

Don’t let anyone limit you!

 

JONATHAN

After getting her Masters degree, she started her own studio where she designed many other projects. One of those projects was the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama. 

 

REDGE 

We’ve learned about the Civil Rights movement before! It’s when people came together to speak out about how everyone, regardless of their skin color, deserves equal rights! 

 

JONATHAN

That’s right, Redge! And that’s what Maya’s memorial was commemorating! 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

That sounds like a rather noble movement. 

 

REDGE

What does that memorial look like? 
 
 JONATHAN

It’s a black granite table that has water flowing over it. There are engravings on it, including the important events that took place during the Civil Rights Movement in America, and a list of 40 people who lost their lives during that time. 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

I must say, as a member of the (hooting like an owl) Hoo Hoo Knows What Happened Historical Club, I appreciate that so much of Maya’s work honors historical events or people that were lost. 

 

REDGE

You’re in the Folktale Forest’s historical club?! I’ve always wanted to join! 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

We can make this happen, Redge!

 

REDGE

Delightful, I can’t wait to talk to people who know what happened in our history, and honor it just like Maya Lin! 

 

JONATHAN

Sounds wonderful! 

 

Maya really did make a lot of memorials in honor of historical events and important figures. Like the Women's Table at Yale University.

 

REDGE

Another table!

 

JONATHAN

Yes and this piece is a large circular shape made of bronze. On the big circle, there's a line of numbers that go around like a spiral. It shows how many women went to Yale University each

year, starting from when they weren't allowed to enroll all the way up to when Maya designed the piece.

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

Weren’t allowed to enroll?

 

JONATHAN

Women in America didn’t always have the same access to a college education as men did. This table was Maya’s way of acknowledging how far we’ve come in giving women the opportunities they deserve. 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

Marvelous.

 

JONATHAN

But beyond designing memorials, Maya uses her art as a way to express her love and concern for nature. 

 

REDGE

That’s right. You mentioned she loves nature like we do. 

 

JONATHAN

Yes, very much so. She’s started science-based art projects like Ghost Forest and What is Missing? to spread the word about the changing climate and deforestation. Redge, I’m sure you already know what climate change is, but just in case you forgot … climate change is what happens when our planet’s temperature gets hotter and this causes problems for people, plants, and animals. There’s a lot of reasons why this happens, but one of the most concerning is pollution.

 

REDGE

Oh my! 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

And it reminds me of our problem here in Folktale Forest.

 

 

 

JONATHAN

Exactly. That’s why this all reminded me of Maya Lin and her work to help save planet Earth.

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

So in other words, with these science-based artworks, Maya is memorializing in a different way. Not necessarily events that took place or friends that we’ve lost, but a time when the Earth was different. Just like when the Folktale Forest was different before the Dragon Breath Glitch.

 

JONATHAN

Yes, that’s a good way of looking at it. But she’s not just looking back. She’s also looking forward and giving us hope that things can be better and that we have the power to make change. 

 

REDGE 

But what can we do to make a change?

 

JONATHAN

Well, to counteract the dragon’s breath, we could make sure to send any plastic or paper to the raccoons.

 

REDGE

You mean the Raccoon Recyclers Guild, reusers of all our old parchment and cans and glass bottles and the like? 

 

JONATHAN: Yes! We recycle where I’m from too! 

 

REDGE

I am an excellent recycler. Reuse, reduce, recycle, I say.

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

That’s a very good thing to say, Reginald.

 

REDGE

Thank you, my good owl. 

 

JONATHAN

Yes and reusing is great! Like having a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic ones at the grocery store. Where I’m from, you can also take the bus, ride your bike, or walk instead of taking your car when it’s safe. 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

Here in the forest, we could plant more trees! The more trees we have, the less work each tree has to do to keep everything balanced. 

 

JONATHAN

Absolutely! Trees produce oxygen which we breathe in to survive. Trees also absorb carbon dioxide or in this case, dragon’s breath. Too much carbon dioxide or dragon’s breath in the air is not good. So the more trees, the less dragon’s breath. 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

Trees also make a fine home for animals in the Folktale Forest.

 

JONATHAN

Yes, they do! 

 

REDGE

Plus, they’re simply beautiful to look at. 

 

JONATHAN

They really are the best to look at. 

 

Another breezy moment.
 
JONATHAN
 I know we talked a lot about big things today but that’s what Maya Lin’s work is about. She takes really big ideas and feelings and puts them into her art. She’s very good at it and many, many people all over the world have connected with her through the things she has created. 

 

REDGE
 I say we start planting some new trees today, Jonathan. 

 

JONATHAN

I’m totally on board with that, Redge. 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

Here, Reginald. This pinecone has seeds in it. Let’s plant those. 

 

Flying sounds of Dr. Featherman flying down to the ground. 

 

JONATHAN

Now, we’ll just need a shovel and some water. 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

And we’ll need to find a spot with sunlight! 

 

REDGE

The sun is shining over there! I’ll race you! 

 

DR. FEATHERMAN

My wings work faster than your paws! 

 

JONATHAN

I think my long legs and huge feet are the fastest!
 
 

JONATHAN CORMUR: Dorktales’ Hidden Heroes of History is a Jonincharacter production. This story was written by Rebecca Cunningham, edited by Molly Murphy, and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Studio Recordings. Reach out to us on Instagram or email us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com. Find links in the show notes or go to dorktalesstorytime.com. Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!

THEME SONG: So gather your squad for all to see. It's a universe that we've imagined. There's twists and turns and lessons learned. This is where the unexpected happens. Join our humble hosts and hit the trails of the wonderful, wacky, wild world of Dorktales.

 

© Dorktales Storytime 2024

 

 

 

 

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