Posted on 11/22/2004 2:57:36 PM PST by finnman69
For two weeks in February, walkways in Central Park will be festooned with 23 miles of saffron-colored fabric gates by the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude in a public art project they have sought to do for 23 years.
The artists had unsuccessfully been trying for years to win city approval for the piece, titled "The Gates, Central Park, New York, 1979 to 2005," until Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is a patron of the arts, agreed to it.
Beginning next month, 7,500 16-foot metal frames designed to hold the fabric will be erected throughout the park at 15-foot intervals. The fabric will be installed on Feb. 12, 2005, the artists said, and will remain until Feb. 27.
"All our work is about freedom," the artists said Monday in a statement, addressing the impermanence of their work. "Nobody can buy our projects, nobody can sell tickets to experience our projects.
"Freedom is the enemy of possession and possession is equal to permanence. That is why our projects cannot remain and must go away forever. Our projects are 'once-in-a-lifetime' and 'once upon a time.'"
The artists, who have previously wrapped the German Reichstag and the Pont Neuf in Paris in fabric and surrounded part of Australia's coast in sand-colored cloth, will pay for the costs related to the project and donate $3 million to the city.
I'd be more impressed if he could wrap Elizabeth Edwards in fabric.
Rebellious New Yorkers can hide behind this monstrosity to sneak a cigarette.
Not that much fabric in NYC.
More dumbass crap labled "art".
I think it will actually be quite beautiful. And it will cost the City nothing.
For only $ 1 million, these clowns are welcome to wrap my house in safron-colored fabric. I'll even spring for the beer.
Christo in NYC ping
Now if Christo would just go away forever....
Yet, if that volumn of fabric could be found, I would recommend a wrap of "The Donald's Hairpiece."
It's not a pretty sight, but it will be in a museum one day.
Why don't we wrap Christo in Duct Tape and throw him in the east river. That is art!
What a completely assinine waste of money.
Here's an idea...use the money that you are spending on this idiocy and donate it to the troops.
I remember this dork put up a bunch of yellow umbrellas in California a few years back. People were out looking at them (for whatever reason), the wind came up, blew an umbrella off its base, knocked somebody down a hill and killed them. What an idiot.
why the color Yellow?
this aint france!
When they are finished could they wrap this butt ugly building?
Don't give him Red Bull first, or it'll never work.
He may get some flack for not being in the Local Fabric Wrapping Union.
"On Monday, February 7, 2005, weather permitting, approximately 700 non-skilled workers (in teams of 7) will elevate The Gates assemblies -- 2 vertical and one horizontal pole, the upper and lower aluminum corners and base assembly and the fabric panel in a cocoon, attached to the upper horizontal pole."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.