Art as memorial

Work on the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial on the National Mall recently began at the Tidal Basin. And appropriately enough, the Times and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution both reported the story this weekend. The project is slated for completion in about 18 months.

So this may be a good moment to consider memorial art. Why do we--meaning humanity as a whole--so often make public art to commemorate a person or an event? What's the earliest example--the Paleolithic wounded bison in the Altamira cave? Roman equestrian monuments? The Bayeux Tapestry? (a fun aside: Make your own Bayeux Tapestry here!)

As social creatures, making art is one way we tell stories and preserve history for each other and for ourselves. We go to the National Mall to see Jefferson in his Pantheon and Washington's obelisk. In 2011, we'll also go to see Dr. King. (image source)