Establishment of an Exploratory Committee

The Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. formed an Exploratory Committee whose purpose was two-fold.  First, the Exploratory Committee was to identify potential sources of granite that met the design and construction specifications of the Foundation.  To ensure the durability of the Stone of Hope and the Mountain of Despair, the Foundation required granite of superior quality and density, with the highest flexural and compression strengths, color and quantity required to execute the monoliths (12,000 cubic feet for the Stone of Hope and 22,500 cubic feet for the Mountain of Despair).

Secondly, the Exploratory Committee was to conduct research to identify individuals who have the technical skills, experience, and background in monumental sculptural work, and who have successfully executed works of art out of granite at a magnitude comparable to the Stone of Hope, 30-ft tall x12-ft wide x 15-ft deep, and the Mountain of Despair, 30-ft x 45-ft x 15-ft.  These criteria would be the standard against which they would select their sculptor. 

The Search for Granite

At the recommendation of the Architect of Record, the members of the Exploratory Committee traveled to Carrara, Italy, where many of the world’s foremost granite and stone quarries display their samples.

After minimal success in Italy, the Committee traveled to Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, where several quarries supplied the granite for the National World War II Memorial.  In addition, random suppliers and quarries sent the Foundation samples from Stone Mountain, Georgia, California, Brazil, China, and South Africa.  None of the quarries could provide the Foundation with the color, quality and quantity it required.

Finally, while making a site visit in Oakland, California, the Committee found the granite they desired, one that adhered to their specifications but was imported from China.  The color and quality of this particular granite was the most appropriate choice for the Mountain of Despair and the Stone of Hope. 

Committee Attends International Stone Carver’s Symposium

Concurrent to the granite research, the Committee tried to locate artists who had completed work in granite on a similar scale to what was depicted in the concept design.  The search led the Committee to the International Stone Carver’s Symposium, hosted by the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Symposium invited a varied group of stone carvers from around the world representing Japan, Germany, Mexico, Italy, China, Zimbabwe, Finland, Egypt and the U.S., to create public works of art to be displayed around the city. 

As the Committee toured the Symposium site, several of the stone carvers expressed interest in the memorial project.  Surprisingly, many of sculptors recommended that the Committee speak with Mr. Lei Yi Xin.  Upon reviewing Lei’s portfolio, the Committee extended an invitation for Lei to visit the Foundation’s office in Washington, DC.  The discussion centered on obtaining Lei’s assistance in locating the specific granite previously discovered by the Committee in Oakland, California.  

Committee Travels to China

Four weeks later, the Committee accepted an invitation from Lei to tour four quarries that could potentially provide the granite that the Foundation sought.  The Committee was presented with four viable choices, but only one was available in the right color with sufficient quantity to complete the project. 

During the visit to China, the Exploratory Committee was also invited to tour the studio of Mr. Lei, whereupon he presented a three-foot tall clay maquette of the Stone of Hope.  Furthermore, the Committee wanted to acquire as much information about the techniques and methods employed to create mega-sculptures out of the hardest stone used in construction.  To learn more about Lei’s techniques and methods, the Committee requested that Lei arrange site visits to where his large-scale public works were on display.  It was evident to all that Mr. Lei had the creative and technical dexterity to produce the Stone of Hope and Mountain of Despair. 

Foundation Presents Stone of Hope to Commission

The Exploratory Committee passed on its evaluations and recommendations to the Foundation.   The Foundation then submitted the recommendations to the Board of Directors and the Executive Leadership Cabinet for approval.  Upon receiving both the Board’s and the Cabinet’s approvals, the Foundation submitted Lei’s design to the United States Commission of Fine Arts on February 15, 2007 and it was unanimously approved.