Any Shots of 'The Gates' In Central Park NYC?

[CoolToolGuy]

Christo, the artist that has wrapped the Reichstag in plastic and put large umbrellas on the coast in Japan and California has a new work in Central Park. Has anyone seen this? Any shots? Any thoughts?

http://www.christojeanneclaude.net/tg.html

Have Fun,

[Longwatcher]

I didn't take this picture, but I like the camera;

*****warning large file size*****

http://www.spaceimaging.com/gallery/spacepics/central_park_12Feb05.jpg

One note: They need some serious practice with look angle orientation, They just oriented it to north. It would fit and display better if they had oriented it to correct look angle. However, based on various items in the photo, it was taken around 10-1030am and the sat was East by Southeast of park at the time. I am just guesstimating here I don't feel like doing math today.

[HJMinard]

I saw them being (rightly IMO) ridiculed on The Daily Show ... they spent 21 million USD on these things. Private money - so they can do as they wish, but if someone has that kind of cash to throw around I can think of some better causes.

I just don't get it ... I admit it. They do nothing for me. To each their own.

[Avalonthas]

money could go to something better.

[NYC2BGI]

I was in Central Park today and saw all of the orange sheets hung up all over the park. It just looks like a huge waste of money to me. The weather was warm today and a lot of people were in Central Park. Most people said "What is this stupid----?

[Geeeyejo]

My sentiments exactly... Art is broadly defined, but I prefer something that cannot easily be duplicated, be it a skilled painting, a great photo, a sculpture, etc. Soemthing that will stand the test of time eternal - this travesty will be long forgotten within a year. 7500 metal gates draped with fabric that can be assembled by any workers is not art IMHO, but a waste of $21,000,000. "The vision" of the artist, let's get real - looks like the Mrs wanted a tribute to her horrific dyed red hair...

[Jemmind]

well if the artist (who EARNED the money themselves) spent that much money on the stuff for that, then he is helping to pay for the workers that made they materials, and then it says on the website all the materials will be industrially recycled. It IS an artist vision...not a cause. what if someone looks at your camera and says, $1500 for a camera? $1,000 for a lens? what a waste of money, you should have donated to the sunami relief.
But seems to me I remember something like this done out west somewhere, miles and miles of...something...,somethings maybe...cannot remember exactly what it was now. But I think it was neat. was that not art because i cannot remember who did it or what it was? :)
WAIT...on looking further at his website it was this:
http://christojeanneclaude.net/rf.html
The running fence. I remember hearing about that...it's very cool to me.

Julie

[Persian-Rice]

Didn't 300,000-400,000 people just die over in Asia?

I am all for art, and this is pretty awsome. But at this point, there are more important priorities then draping central park in orange. Imagine if someone told those poor souls in asia that someone did this witht heir 21 mill across the pond in New York.................

[roanjohn]

Will go this weekend..........hopefully

Ro1

[CyberDyneSystems]

Christo has been doing this since the 70's at least,. he wrapped the newport bridge when I was in Grade School...

He is big time,. really big time. No I don't get it either,. but he's like Coca Cola of the art world,.

[KelliShaver]

I think this one is kind of neat. I'm sure, walking through it all in person, it would be more interesting and have more of an "impact" - be it positive or negative. To me, it doesn't seem worth the money, but hey, it's not my money to spend.

That said, putting up a 21mil installation weeks after the tsunami, when others are donating to the cause and so much needs done, does seem to be a move made in very poor taste. I realize that by this time, much of the money was already spent so it couldn't have been donated even if they'd wanted it to, but at the very least, the installation could have waited a couple of months, if for no other reason than out of respect. It's been years in the making already, a few more months wouldn't have mattered.

[CoolToolGuy]

I think this one is kind of neat. I'm sure, walking through it all in person, it would be more interesting and have more of an "impact" - be it positive or negative. To me, it doesn't seem worth the money, but hey, it's not my money to spend.

That said, putting up a 21mil installation weeks after the tsunami, when others are donating to the cause and so much needs done, does seem to be a move made in very poor taste. I realize that by this time, much of the money was already spent so it couldn't have been donated even if they'd wanted it to, but at the very least, the installation could have waited a couple of months, if for no other reason than out of respect. It's been years in the making already, a few more months wouldn't have mattered.

It is possible that the display of this artwork is keyed to this time of year due to the state of the trees in the park and coordination with the city. By December 26 (tsunami) all the money was spent except for the labor to assemble it.

Have Fun,

[KelliShaver]

This is true... I hadn't thought of that.

[Longwatcher]

This is not one of most favorite pieces of Christo's art, but I did find the piece he did in the florida keys and the one in California somewhat inspirational.

Why produce ANY art, after all it uses up resources? Lets just make everything functional. The same.

The reason is because we can. Some of the art inspires us, which allows us to think of new things that maybe we did not think of before. The possibility exists that Christo's art will inspire someone to come up with a better way of preventing tsunami's in the future (unlikely I admit). On just that chance and all of the other things his art work may make people think about. I think it is well worth it; even if I think that was a lot of money for temporary art.

It is the reason I like photography, it allows me to express my creative side. I like looking at certain pictures because they make me think. I hope that someday I produce some photo that makes people think (in a good way). Then even if I don't know it it is all worth it.

[CoolToolGuy]

This is not one of most favorite pieces of Christo's art, but I did find the piece he did in the florida keys and the one in California somewhat inspirational.

Why produce ANY art, after all it uses up resources? Lets just make everything functional. The same.

The reason is because we can. Some of the art inspires us, which allows us to think of new things that maybe we did not think of before. The possibility exists that Christo's art will inspire someone to come up with a better way of preventing tsunami's in the future (unlikely I admit). On just that chance and all of the other things his art work may make people think about. I think it is well worth it; even if I think that was a lot of money for temporary art.

It is the reason I like photography, it allows me to express my creative side. I like looking at certain pictures because they make me think. I hope that someday I produce some photo that makes people think (in a good way). Then even if I don't know it it is all worth it.

G*d D*mn, you're good! I was looking for a way to say something like that, and I don't think I could word it any better. Thanks for the thought.

I don't fawn all over Christo's work, but I think he presents an alternative art form that expands the envelope. More power to him.

Have Fun,

[BearSummer]

I didn't take this picture, but I like the camera;

*****warning large file size*****

http://www.spaceimaging.com/gallery/spacepics/central_park_12Feb05.jpg

One note: They need some serious practice with look angle orientation, They just oriented it to north. It would fit and display better if they had oriented it to correct look angle. However, based on various items in the photo, it was taken around 10-1030am and the sat was East by Southeast of park at the time. I am just guesstimating here I don't feel like doing math today.

Very cool link, and the best bit of this thread for me so far is the amazing way that the ice has frozen on the lakes. You learn something new every day,

BearSummer

[CoolToolGuy]

Sounds like this is creating some buzz in the city:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TRAVEL/02/17/the.gates.ap/index.html

One million viewers so far.

Have Fun,

[Barb42]

http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050217163159649

Careful with the wild photos of the Gates. CHristo is threatening to sue anyone taking a photo and using it. He has copyrighted it and the name "The Gates".

"This Christo/Central Park Conservancy/Bloomberg fiasco is taking on some amazing twists. Today, 2/17/05, a representative of Christo's German publisher informed street artists, photographers and art vendors around Central Park that they would be subject to arrest for selling any images of The Gates. I got the number of this person, Dr. Fils, and had a lengthy talk with him.

The Gate's Locked

Christo threatens artist arrests

by Robert Lederman"

[rick barclay]

I don't see how Christos can do that. It's public property.

[CoolToolGuy]

As the work gets disassembled:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-03-04-gates-nyc_x.htm

'The Gates' brought in over $250 Million to the New York economy. Part of the reason it was blessed by the city... ;)

Have Fun,