Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s The Gates
February 22nd, 2005
Dear East-Coasters (and die-hard West-Coast art fans),
if you have any free time, you should go check out Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s free, 16-day, envirnomental art installation, the Gates, which covers the entirety Central Park in 7,500 gates and 46 miles of fabric (closes Feb 27th). The pair are known for such large-scale undertakings as covering hillsides with umbrellas and wrapping various natural and architectural elements in cloth. None of the individual gates or pieces will be sold, on artistic principle, and everything will be industrially recycled. The installation can be seen from any part of the park, and maps can be purchase from the Central Park Conservancy. Check out a fellow-blogger’s pictures of the unfurling.
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February 22nd, 2005 at 4:32 pm
The sketches done for the project, many of them from 1979, are absolutely beautiful, often more beautiful than the reality, in my opinion. See the link to the Gates in the post above.
February 23rd, 2005 at 9:36 pm
It’s quite a project… I heard that the artist put down tens-of-thousands of his own money?
March 2nd, 2005 at 12:05 am
actually, according to the NY Times: “As with their previous 18 large works, Christo and Jeanne-Claude financed the full cost, some $20 million.” Apparently, they foot the bill of every art project, refusing to accept sponsership or donations.
It also took 26 years before the city would approve the design, which was first introduced in 1979 but initally denied for fear of cost and damage to the park.
Lastly, all proceeds from the event, which is estimated by the Economic Development Corporation to generate $80 million in “tourism and other spending” for the city, and merchandising rights will go to the Nurture New York’s Nature and the Arts foundation which are in turn sharing proceeds with the Central Park Conservancy.
check out more interactive media coverage at the NY Times