I don’t think I’d ever seen Central Park so packed. I’d seen parts of it packed — but the entire place was packed. The surprise? Everyone was in a good mood. It was, if you’ll forgive me, a happening. As Bill Repsher would say, the Paxil was flowing freely. We didn’t make it above 86th St. I have a hunch it is more quiet around the Harlem Meer. I intend to head back there on a particularly cold day to see The Gates in solitude. Here are some photos:
Outside of Belvedere Castle we bumped into Heather Klein and Danny Cross. Haven’t seen them since they tied the knot in October!
Lastly, got to hand it to the park workers yesterday. Everybody was helpful and friendly. This woman stood near the Cleopatra’s Needle (note: THAT was the highlight for me — seeing the 2 thousand year old obelisk juxtaposed with this new art. I took several photos trying to get them in the same shot — and I just couldn’t nail it. But if you go there yourself you’ll see what I am talking about) Anyway, this woman was very funny.
You went to see the Gates! So did I! Nice touch with the orange shirt and bouree. I wore sunglasses and wore my scarf across my face to avoid my image being captured in all the picutres I’m sure I stepped into. (It’s a fear of mine — yes, another one.) I took pictures too but yours are way better than mine. Word of advice – if you haven’t been to the Met’s roof garden yet, don’t. It’s a total waste of time. There was a long line to take the elevator up (and a long line getting down the stairs which wasn’t faster than the elevator) and once you got there, the view wasn’t good at all because of the hedges and the roof blocking the view. As we were walking around I saw the funniest thing: you know how owners put those things on pinchers’ ears to hold them up while they’re young? Well, this guy had a mini pincher and the brace that held up the ears was in the shape and color of the Gates. It was just too funny. Did you get a swatch sample? I’m going to frame mine!
Any chance they’re going to give away those orange tarps when this thing wraps up in two weeks? My brother just bought a new riding lawn mower, and I think one of those would look good covering it.
I doubt they are giving them away. They will be auctioned off, I am sure, to very wealthy people.
Some of the park handlers were giving out little scraps of fabric — mostly to kids. I saw one guy wearing his pinned to his jacket — like Rumsfeld’s American flag.
Come on guys, do your homework. Everything gets recycled.
Can I purchase a “gate” or fabric after the installation?
Separate “gates” and their components are not available to art collectors and there are reasons that emerge from Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s aesthetic for this. The Gates and their components will be industrially recycled.
The work of art in The Gates is the entire environment, in this case Central Park and its surrounding environs. To experience the artwork, one immerses oneself into that environment. Each separate “gate” would be merely a relic of the artwork and not a work of art. Seven thousand, five hundred structures together in Central Park IS a work of art.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude wish to reverse the relationship in art between artwork and relic. Christo’s preparatory works, predict what a Christo and Jeanne-Claude work of art will look and feel like.
All the materials from Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s artworks are industrially recycled. This makes sure relics are not scattered about the place, looking into the past. Also, disassembly and recycling is environmentally sound.
I’m curious to know how it is recycled. Like, this fabric will eventually be bleached out, used again, sold as a consumer product? Who gets it? I hope this aspect is covered when Albert Maysels finishes his documentary.
Also — since it is all going to be recycled — does this mean it is kosher to enter the park on the last day with a pair of scissors and taking a memento?