Finalists for Martin Luther King Jr. Boston memorial revealed
by Andrew Manns | 08 Oct 2018
MLK Boston – a non-profit which supports cultural programmes focused on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr – has unveiled the final designs for a memorial to the late activist and his wife, Coretta Scott King.
The competition, first announced in December 2017, received 126 submissions; five made the final cut.
Once chosen, the winning design will stand near the Massachusetts State House, in the 50-acre Boston Common.
Among the architects selected were: Boston King Memorial by Adam Pendleton, Adjaye Associates, Future Pace, and David Reinfurt, and Empty Pulpit Monument by Barbara Chase-Riboud.
The team behind Boston King Memorial, which features black, hill-shaped structures, took inspiration from King’s "I have been to the Mountaintop" speech. In a statement, they said that the memorial will "embody a broader sense of urgency and solidarity in the present."
Similarly, in describing her Empty Pulpit Monument – a bronze column made of bronze and "imperishable" stone–Barbara Riboud commented that she hoped her sculpture would "serve as a destination for reflection, relaxation, education, and inspiration".
Other firms and individuals whose submissions were selected include Hank Willis Thomas, MASS Design Group, Yinka Shonibare, Maryann Thompson Architects, and Wodizcko + Bonder.
The public is invited to vote on the designs and will have until 16 October to do so.
Boston MLK Martin Luther King Jr Hank Willis MASS Design Group Yinka Shonibare and Wodizcko + Bonder Adjaye Associates Adam Pendleton
'The Ripple Effects' by Wodiczko + Bonder/Maryann Thompson Architects, with Walter Hood Credit: courtesy of MLK Boston
'The Embrace' by Hank Willis Thomas with MASS Design Group Credit: courtesy of MLK Boston
'Empty Pulpit Monument' by Barbara Chase-Riboud Credit: courtesy of MLK Boston
'Boston's King Memorial' by David Adjaye and Adam Pendleton with FuturePace Credit: courtesy of MLK Boston
MLK Boston – a non-profit which supports cultural programmes focused on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr – has unveiled the final designs for a memorial to the late activist and his wife, Coretta Scott King. The competition, first announced in December 2017, received 126 submissions; five made the final cut. Once chosen, the winning design will stand near the Massachusetts State House, in the 50-acre Boston Common. Among
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