Wednesday, December 17, 2008

and another...


The WW II Memorial is one of my favorites.  It's really well done.  It is an immersive experience, by which I mean you doesn't just stand there and stare at it, like you would at other memorials, with can be impressive enough, but to experience this memorial you walk among it and are able to interact with it.  The fountains are designed to produce not only a pleasant visual experience but to provide an aural signature that helps you experience the monument in an intimate way.  By that I mean you can become engrossed in various aspects of the memorial such as the engravings, bas reliefs, or sculptures.  The water is "loud" enough to allow you to quietly, as if by yourself even if there are many others around, to experience that particular display in a private way.  There are some very poignant inscriptions that lend themselves to private and even solemn reflection and the fountains are placed in part to allow you to do just that.   It is a moving experience, and one not to be missed.