For this multifaceted, ambitious work, Maya Lin approaches her favorite subjects: science, nature and art with a high-tech, high-touch sensibility. Several plans are in the works for “What is Missing?” Lin has committed to the evolution of this work over time and place – sites will include: San Francisco, New York City, Beijing, Washington D.C. and cyberspace – until 2020. Media and installation projects incorporate: a recently completed sound cone sculpture in San Francisco, a billboard for Times Square, an expanded website, a traveling exhibit starting in Beijing, both a virtual and physical book, a sound sculpture, a projected light sculpture, limited edition glass castings of animals and a virtual online map – the greenprint. If only there could be more public art projects such as this.

The process and research for this memorial has taken place over several years. Working with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Geographic Society, ARKive among others, data, images and sounds of species, habitats and locations have been compiled to create this accessible yet complex public art project.

What are some of the themes explored? Certainly a sense of what is occurring and a true perspective on the resulting impact. As Dr. Gregory Farring, Director of the California Academy of Sciences states, these themes “… they encourage people to think about the world and their responsibility to it.” The Academy’s mission is to ask two basic questions: “Life – How did we get here?” and as part of the “challenge of sustainability – How are we going to find a way to stay?” Maya Lin explores biodiversity, habitat destruction, fragile and exploited ecosystems. Effective and current, ephemeral and timeless, ask yourself what is missing?

now that you’ve gain several pounds or have a sugar rush from all of that cake. it’s time for some salad: