Thanks for coming along on my homage to Christo and Jeanne-Claude and the 10th anniversary of The Gates - Central Park, New York City. It was a soul-touching mind-bending joyful experience to witness in real life - one of those you-had-to-be-there events. I was glad I did - twice! How I envy those who got to see them in-progress, then visit daily. I will always be impressed and respectful of the colossal undertaking, and the courageous vision behind the saffron curtains. To walk under them was a privilege. Sixteen days was fleeting, ephemeral....wish it was a little longer. But the short-lived existence adds to the specialness, and that was their point. Sixteen days meant you had to make the effort to get there, to be part of it.
Christo is still pursuing Over The River, a temporary fabric suspension over the Arkansas River in Colorado.
There is a new book on the artists, due for release March 24. Christo and Jeanne-Claude In/Out Studio. Christo will be signing books on April 1st at 192 Books, from 7pm. (192 Tenth Ave at 21st Street, NYC)
Although The Gates was a once-in-lifetime event, there are many opportunities we can take advantage of as curious people, hungry for visual stimulation. Nine years ago we got to see a Chihuly installation at the New York Botanical Gardens. It was another example of getting to witness a grand vision by an artist. There is a Chihuly experience awaiting you at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, Florida through May 2015. Wish I could see it! Last summer I met with friends at the Grounds for Sculpture in New Jersey. I will be going back soon to see an art installation by Jae Ko - 20,000 lbs of recycled kraft paper will be transformed into sculpture along a 80 ft. wall. I have plans to visit Storm King later this Spring - to see a monumental Andy Goldsworthy stone wall in real life. Is there something going on in your neck of the woods? Get out and see it! Whether it's an annual flower show, a new museum exhibit, or a parade, or fireworks - it's good to make a change to our routine and expand our visual cues.
Obviously art isn't about being epic, but it is really cool when we can participate as an observer, something that is really big.....so big that you can experience it dimensionally. Here's to the visionaries.
Thank you Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
The final page of my Gates journal - using up the table cover newsprint, with a parody postcard. This image made its way around the internet ten years ago and recently I found a shop selling "The Crackers" at CafePress.
p.s The Gates of NYC have never been far from my mind, particularly these last three years while our town is undergoing serious road construction....we have miles of saffron orange barricade curtains along our local roads. Here are the daily views during summer and winter.
