“I know these projects are totally irrational, totally useless. The world can live without them, nobody needs them, only me and Jeanne-Claude. She always made the point that they exist because we like to have them, and if others like them, it’s only a bonus.” – Christo
Christo and his longtime partner, Jeanne-Claude, conceived art projects on a massive scale, you know, like wrapping the Reichstag in Berlin and the Pont-Neuf Bridge in Paris in fabric, creating a 24-mile Running Fence in Sonoma and Marin counties in California, and bedecking New York City’s Central Park with The Gates, a project that it took Mayor Bloomberg to green light after it had been rejected by the puritanical and tyrannical Mayor Giuliani before him because he didn’t like art and didn’t want all those art-curious people trampling all over our beloved Central Park!
Then Bloomberg said Yes, New York City would be honored to host The Gates, and people came from all over to stroll Central Parks pathways underneath orange flags suspended overhead.
And they were enchanted.
Mesmerized.
Fascinated.
And New York City rejoiced.
And then The Gates were gone forever.
This is what Christo and Jeanne-Claude give New York City and the world – totally useless site-specific works of art on a grand scale.
They believed that if you can imagine something, then it can and should be manifested. That the “totally irrational, totally useless” are rational and useful. That the world cannot live without that which it can live without.
That it is good “they exist because we like to have them.”
“The important part of this project is the temporary part, the nomadic quality. The work needs to be gone, because I do not own the work, no one does. This is why it is free.” – Christo
Christo’s newest project is Walking on Water. Take a walk on the wild side. Walk on Water.
Christo’s newest project: Walking on Water:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/17/arts/design/christos-newest-project-walking-on-water.html
The Gates Documentary, Jim Hensen Pictures, 2007:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHCqZJI1VyU
#Christo #WalkonWater #TheGates
June 19, 2016 at 2:53 pm
That the world cannot live without that which it can live without.
Such a thought provoking sentence.
I feel no need to read the article because in this post you have already given me so much to consider. Thank you.
June 19, 2016 at 3:01 pm
Hi, Sam Breach I will never forget walking through Central Park and underneath Christo’s and Jeanne-Claude’s Gates.
Everyone was looking up, father’s carried their little boys and girls on their backs so they could reach up and try to touch them.
Tourists from all over – the United States and from around the world – were taking group photos and selfies.
You could hear people speaking in every language, chatting away about the experience, what they were feeling…
It was fabulous. It never wanted to leave. I wanted to sleep under them, wake up under them, live and breath under them.
Thank God for artists, who are motivated just because, in defiance of all logic, convenience, practicality.
At the beginning of every day and at the end of every day, I am inspired by people who create…just to make themselves happy…like Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
June 19, 2016 at 3:07 pm
Giselle Minoli I love public art projects like that, I am 100% in favour. I grew up in Bristol, the birthplace of Banksy who is somewhat controversial. Eventually through his art he managed to capture the imagination of my conservative, graffiti-hating mother with whom I attended an exhibition where he secretly taken over the City’s museum and replaced 100 exhibits with thought provoking alternatives. It gave me great pleasure to see the appreciation grow in her.
June 19, 2016 at 3:17 pm
Sam Breach I’m sort of obsessed with Banksy. I loved Exit Through the Gift Shop (link below for those who don’t know this film) You see? Even a conservative graffiti-hating person’s imagination can succumb to the intrigue of creating public art. Can I imagine that this opening in your mother was good for your relationship? Is she still a conservative? 😉 Do tell…
Exit Through the Gift Shop:
http://exitthroughthegiftshop.com/
June 19, 2016 at 3:53 pm
My mum went back to university in her 50s to do social work and I think that, along with the liberal opinions of me and my sister influencing her has over the years led to her being more open minded. I imagine she would still vote for the conservative government, who are themselves more liberal these days anyway. Gay marriage for example: couldn’t have been imagined when I was a kid. There is a fine line between graffiti and street art -> even I can struggle with those boundaries, so it’s understandable that it’s controversial. I think the relationship with parents becomes better once you stop being a child.
June 19, 2016 at 4:01 pm
Sam Breach “I think the relationship with parents becomes better once you stop being a child.” Indeed. Perhaps not so strangely, I know people I consider to be among the most ‘healthy’ of kids…they call their parents by their first names. Unless one consciously chooses to grow up at some point…a child will always remain hostage in some ways to the beliefs of their parents…a bit of a generalization, but you get my drift I think.
Cheers to you and your Mum…and to Christo, the late Jeanne-Claude…and Bansky!
June 19, 2016 at 4:02 pm
Yay for Art! So important!!!
June 19, 2016 at 4:41 pm
Me too, Elisabeth Schabus…but I’m so far away! Happy for all those who are able to Walk on Water, courtesy of Christo!
June 19, 2016 at 8:45 pm
Giselle Minoli https://piodalcin.wordpress.com/2016/06/19/christo-opens-the-gates-of-floating-piers/
June 19, 2016 at 8:49 pm
I walked the entire 1.9 miles. I found it very very interesting. Walking on it feels like walking in a over inflated water bed with the water slowly moving under it. I tried to see Christo but could not. I wanted to give him my book and take another photo with him. To get there and be one of the first five people who walked on the piers I had to live home at 2.30 am. Got there at 5.30. The gates were open at 7:40. More videos and photos at wveneto.com
June 19, 2016 at 9:58 pm
So happy that you were there so early pio dal cin. It must be exquisite in person, because it is exquisite in photos and in the video. Love the water bed analogy…
June 20, 2016 at 11:03 am
Thanks Giselle Minoli I’m looking to go back and see if I get a bit of luck in bumping into him. I’m a bit saddened by the fact that a few of the top art’s critic in Italy are not understanding Christo’s philosophy and are criticizing him. The people response though is wonderful.Everyone loves the “ride”
June 20, 2016 at 12:09 pm
Christo creates for people pio dal cin, not critics. I am sure he doesn’t care in the least…and you know our Italians…this is their personality!
June 21, 2016 at 6:50 pm
Giselle Minoli you are right… those critics want to look hip because they criticize him, They don’t even understand what this is all about. They tried to compare him with Caravaggio. How stupid…
June 21, 2016 at 7:14 pm
Seriously, how stupid pio dal cin. But this kind of criticizing of artists who are breaking new ground, who are before their time, who are doing something one instinctively ‘gets’ or one has to be talked into understanding…this kind of critic is everywhere pio dal cin. They did the same to Andres Serrano, Renne Cox…Andy Warhol. Such intellectual snottiness. Such a paucity of intellectual rigor and curiosity. So typical and predictable.
June 21, 2016 at 8:26 pm
“When a great genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign; that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.” (Jonhatan Swift) Giselle Minoli I Love #Christo ‘s work and I consider him a genius. my wish is to be able to meet him and talk to him again but he is hard to find here by the lake
June 21, 2016 at 8:41 pm
Keep working toward the manifestation of your desire to meet Christo pio dal cin. It’s possible.
June 22, 2016 at 7:38 pm
I sent you an email Giselle Minoli . I’m back to Venice and trying to send emails left and right trying to get a date for a short interview or a two minute photo session. If they answer I will drive again the 520 km round trip that separates me from my dream. I was thinking if a newspaper from the USA was interested they could send a request to the press office. In exchange I could giver them all the pictures they want for free. All I’m interested in is to get to take a picture of him. I can’t go there every day and just hope to run into him by chance. The area is too big. He could be anywhere..That is the situation as of now.. If you visit Facebook page (private) https://www.facebook.com/groups/EuropeanPhotojournalistsUnited/ I made you manager of it you can see all my photos there European Photojournalists United
June 22, 2016 at 8:40 pm
I responded to you by private email pio dal cin
June 23, 2016 at 4:25 pm
I appears so many people want to Walk on Christo’s Water that the art work will be closed for repairs already: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/24/arts/design/christos-floating-piers-to-close-at-night-for-repairs.html?module=WatchingPortal®ion=c-column-middle-span-region&pgType=Homepage&action=click&mediaId=wide&state=standard&contentPlacement=2&version=internal&contentCollection=www.nytimes.com&contentId=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2016%2F06%2F24%2Farts%2Fdesign%2Fchristos-floating-piers-to-close-at-night-for-repairs.html&eventName=Watching-article-click&_r=0
June 29, 2016 at 6:18 pm
https://wordpress.com/stats/insights/piodalcin.wordpress.com
July 21, 2016 at 12:41 am
If my Hair gets any Longer..I’ll be able to Walk on the Swamp Water too by the Time Santa gets down here to Floridaaaah ..(There’s a Pic on here Somewhere when I had my Custom Leather Hippie Shop in the W. Village..corner of Bleeker and McDougle).