Central Park is a landmark of Manhattan and New York as much as the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. Walking into the paradise of Central Park after being in the jungle of glass and steel is to take a breath of fresh air. On February 12, 2005, this hike was made even more splendid and inspiring with 7,500 16-foot-tall “gates” with bright orange fabric blowing in the wind 7 feet above you. As the fabric flapped and creaked, it concealed the city from you and made the noise of taxis and ambulances pause for a moment. Because at that moment you were part of something bigger than the city, the park or yourself; for a moment you were part of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s art.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude are known for their many great works with cloth and the natural world. The couple are classically educated and trained artists who came together as partners in both art and life in 1960. Since their first collaboration in 1961, they have continued to spread their cloth-lined ideas around the world. Some of his most famous works were “The Running Fence”, which spread over 24 miles of the California countryside and the “surrounded islands” when in Biscayne Bay, Miami was wrapped in a blue cloth. His art is done on a large scale and is internationally visible for the greatest number of people to see. Like many beautiful things in life, like spring flowers or autumn leaves, you must see them when they are there or they will disappear forever. Christo and Jeanne-Claude are currently working on a project to wrap or create a roof on the Arizona River in Colorado. This project is expected to be completed by the end of 2008. The couple have raised their son and have lived in New York City since 1964.
Because they are residents of this wonderfully eclectic American city, they wanted a way to show their love and appreciation for it. They had asked to do some kind of project for and with the city for many years, but all their ideas were rejected. When they came up with “The Gates” in 2004, they were happily granted permission. This project gave many New York City residents work to lift and dismantle the masterpiece, and the opportunity to be a part of this ingenious couples appreciation. On February 27, 2005, New Yorkers were left with the park’s natural green landscape and memories of walking under the autumn gates.