What? Are there no artists in the U.S.?

By Robin Neudorfer

This really caught my attention today, and I am downright livid about it. We have a National Mall and Memorial Park in Washington D.C. I have visited it many times, since I have family in that part of the world. In fact my last trip was to Washington D.C. The Monuments are amazing and at times quite emotional. So today I hear that they are placing a new monument there. I am excited because the famous quotes always makes one take a deep breath and consider under what situation it was inspired from. Yet, as the information was being ingrained into my brain cells at 5:30 A.M., the hair on my back started to rise... A Tribute to Martin Luther King... designed by who else... someone from China. Because really, what could be more Chinese than Martin Luther King and the American black civil rights movement? So Chinese. And not only will the sculptor be Chinese, but the stone as well. China's all over this one. On Thursday, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts chose China's "national treasure" Master Lei Yixin to create the 28-foot likeness of Dr. Martin Luther King, to stand at the new D.C. memorial dedicated to the civil rights leader. Contrary to my initial assumption people in China couldn't give a rat's ass about Martin Luther King, Lei told the AP, "Martin Luther King is well known all around the world. In China, everyone knows about him." I did a little research of my own, asked a few Chinese people. They all know the speech, nobody quite understands its message. The sculpture will be carved from a light beige variety of granite stone found in China's Fujian province, according to the AP, and the project itself, expected to last a year, will take place in D.C. ..... the statue is going to be of King with his arms crossed. Facing the Jefferson Memorial, to be exact. There will be 14 quotations of Dr. King adorning the statue. Lei, who has carved a famous likeness of Mao Zedong said of the project, "When I was assigned to the task, I felt tremendous pressure and responsibility. This is the most important project I have ever had." While Lei Yixin is obviously a very accomplished artist, I can't help but think it is a little strange to have a Chinese sculptor carving the first D.C. memorial dedicated to a black American. I mean first, it would be nice to have an American do it. And second, it would be a bit more meaningful if an African-American sculptor was chosen to carve King. Of all the things to outsource to China? From Flumesday Can you understand why I am a bit steamed under my collar? I could name a few incredible artists that would have been quite proud to put their name on this monument. I don't know about you, but I am thinking that a few letters, to a few prominent people, might just let our feelings be known. If it hadn't of been for a brief comment on the Laura Ingraham show this morning I would never have even know about this. I seem to know more about the problems Paris Hilton has, and a few other simple minded situations our society seems to be obsessed with. I suggest that you take a moment to consider the absurdity of this choice. Contact: Rica Orszag Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. 202-253-8974 rorszag@mlkmemorial.org