As a woman, it is obvious to me that Maya Lin's work is informed by an essential feminism.At the very beginning of her career, in her iconic Vietnam War memorial, Lin refused to celebrate heroism. She offered us instead what could be considered a female artist's vision, a memorial meant for those left behind, the mournful mothers of the soldiers killed in battle.Lin's concern with the environment is rooted in the nurturing feminine. She has become a powerful voice in the sustainability movement with What Is Missing?, an interactive website and public engagement program that profiles species and biomes on the brink of extinction, with special emphasis on bodies of water.