|
The Gates in Central Park
(Central Park Website)
Conceived and Designed by Jeanne-Claude and Christo
(Artists’ Website)
(See 2 of Mark Millen's Stunning Photos of The Gates - Click links below)
http://contaxg.com/document.php?id=19627
http://contaxg.com/document.php?id=19559
Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
March 17, 2005 The saffron gates in New York City’s Central Park were splendid on February 20, 2005, the day of the photo essay below, a cold, but not so cloudy Sunday on a Holiday weekend. Jeanne-Claude and Christo first conceived and designed these 7,503 massive saffron (I actually have a tiny square piece of souvenir material, thanks to the volunteer in photos below) gates in 1979, some larger (around the bridges and tunnels) and some smaller (where limbs or tree trunks may have intruded). For only 16 days, these gates remained on view, as they absorbed sunlight, withstood harsh wind, rain, sleet, and snow, were gently unhooked from branches with rounded poles, and greeted millions of New Yorkers and tourists from around the globe.
The Gates were finally removed from February 28, 2005 until March 11, 2005. Three hundred workers dismantled the steel bases, aluminum attachments, vinyl covering on metal, polystyrene bases, and nylon fabric. The entire cost of the installation and dismantling, as well as the cost of materials and labor, were thanks to Jeanne-Claude and Christo, who earned the $21 million through the sale of original lithographs and drawings of the project, as well as through sales of smaller, earlier art works. For a couple of weeks in the cold of a New York City February, people actually flocked to the park! They rode in horse-drawn buggies, on bicycles, in baby carriages, in automated machines, in bike-propelled buggies, and, for VIP’s, in luxury cars. Even the ducks seemed to enjoy the out-of-season crowds and attention.
Now it’s March, and with the impending and much-needed spring season, we should once more flock to the park and enjoy the sprouting buds and leaves, baby birds, and baby ducks. It will be time for picnics, kites, bubbles, and balloons, but there will always be the memory of the thousands of saffron gates, over, under, and through the hills, trees, ponds, bridges, tunnels, paths, ice-skating rink, and fields. Saffron in still reflections and saffron in fluttering imagery. Thank you Jeanne-Claude and Christo for luring us to your splendid multitude of brightly colored Gates in Central Park in a cold, wintry February.
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
The Gates in Central Park, NY
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
|
