The Gates
Feb 14th, 2005, 05:56 AM
#21
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In that detailed post from the newspaper above here is the telling line:
"The Gates" is an abomination. Call me a Philistine, but how can one improve on trees, lakes and rocky outcroppings with miles of plastic-treated cloth?"
In other words, there is no way in the world this person was ever going to like the project. His mind (like so many others) was made up before he ever went to "experience" the gates.
So are we to be surprised that he, like Gekko, who ranted about the project before he saw it, didn't like it? I have a friend who HATES musical theatre. Perhaps he's the person we should ask to do a review of a new musical? I wonder if he will praise it?
By the way, art is meant to stimulate and to arouse controversy and thought. So there is NO doubt that this project has succeeded 100% in that regard.
"The Gates" is an abomination. Call me a Philistine, but how can one improve on trees, lakes and rocky outcroppings with miles of plastic-treated cloth?"
In other words, there is no way in the world this person was ever going to like the project. His mind (like so many others) was made up before he ever went to "experience" the gates.
So are we to be surprised that he, like Gekko, who ranted about the project before he saw it, didn't like it? I have a friend who HATES musical theatre. Perhaps he's the person we should ask to do a review of a new musical? I wonder if he will praise it?
By the way, art is meant to stimulate and to arouse controversy and thought. So there is NO doubt that this project has succeeded 100% in that regard.
Feb 14th, 2005, 06:03 AM
#23
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I will never ever question how you spend your personal money. I don't understand why you criticize others for how they spend theirs. Especially since the spending of their money will raise millions (yes, that is true) for the betterment of New York. Do you have a clue how much this project is earning the city of New York, despite the fact the Christos are paying for all of it?
Feb 14th, 2005, 06:28 AM
#24
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Hopefully enough to allow the Central Park Conservancy (of which I am a member) to repair the damage to the Park's beauty and <i>natural</i> assets.
And maybe the "vomit orange" sheets can be donated to the city's homeless . . . but I doubt the homeless would want them.
And maybe the "vomit orange" sheets can be donated to the city's homeless . . . but I doubt the homeless would want them.
Feb 14th, 2005, 06:33 AM
#25
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While I didn't care much for the project, I should point out that Christo donated 3 million dollars to the Central Park Conservancy (Google "Christo donation Central Park Conservancy" to confirm this).
Feb 14th, 2005, 06:39 AM
#26
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By the way, did the installation really harm the park in any way? I don't think so -- no holes were actually drilled into the ground, as far as I know. It was all standalone, if I remember right.
Feb 14th, 2005, 06:40 AM
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it is too bad that gekko doesn't know more about the organization that he claims to be a member of. they have supported the project strongly from the get go, and have profitted from it also to the tune of millions of dollars so they can continue to do their good work.
Feb 14th, 2005, 06:56 AM
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I'm with you Gekko - You can't improve on nature. How can anyone find this dreck "artistic"? Somebody punch these people and tell them the Emperor has no clothes, please. I guess this kind of blind following explains why Barbara Streisand still has an audience too.
To paraphrase Justice Potter Stewart: "I know Art when I see it, and this isn't Art." Cristo will go the way of Peter Max and Leroy Neiman in about ten years. You're gonna laugh that he was ever popular.
To paraphrase Justice Potter Stewart: "I know Art when I see it, and this isn't Art." Cristo will go the way of Peter Max and Leroy Neiman in about ten years. You're gonna laugh that he was ever popular.
Feb 14th, 2005, 07:12 AM
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Actually, now that I think about it, I wonder if there's a connection between Christo's art and Robert Smithson's:
http://www.robertsmithson.com/
When you think about it, maybe it needs to be experienced "aerially." I'd be interested to know if there're any aerial photos of the installation. It's too bad that the Met roof didn't provide a nice view.
Perhaps some rich Fodorite who owns one of the coop apartments on Fifth Avenue or CPW can invite us for a party.
http://www.robertsmithson.com/
When you think about it, maybe it needs to be experienced "aerially." I'd be interested to know if there're any aerial photos of the installation. It's too bad that the Met roof didn't provide a nice view.
Perhaps some rich Fodorite who owns one of the coop apartments on Fifth Avenue or CPW can invite us for a party.
Feb 14th, 2005, 07:43 AM
#32
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Yes, Gekko, it did make me chuckle, when I saw that it came from the "paragon" (ha!) of journalism, the New York Post!
And, as already has been pointed out, the Central Park Conservancy is a supporter of the project and will benefit greatly in a financial sense from it. Its presence and participation was was easily noticed on Sunday.
And, now we have someone comparing The Gates to Barbra Streisand! It's getting laughable!
And, as already has been pointed out, the Central Park Conservancy is a supporter of the project and will benefit greatly in a financial sense from it. Its presence and participation was was easily noticed on Sunday.
And, now we have someone comparing The Gates to Barbra Streisand! It's getting laughable!
Feb 15th, 2005, 03:13 AM
#33
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to ALL, including Gekko, (BTW Gekko, we can buy the Post for 25 cents, you need to offer original opinions intstead)
I have been working for the NYC Parks department as a Parktender volunteer for five years, and I've seen alot of public behavior in the park of all kinds, I must spend probably a third of my volunteer hour cleaning up defacement of the park by various people, and pets, etc.).
IMO, this is very much a NYC thing, although it will attract an international audience.
Cristo and Jean-Claude are longtime NYers, and have dedicated much of their time for the last 20 plus years to work with the communities surrounding the park, and the Parks department to achieve a way to install this glorious work and still repect "nature" in the Park, (which is entirely man-made). That is one of the most wonderful things about it, it is constructed in a way that turns no soil, and disturbs not a single branch of a tree. Unlike many public works of art, all members of the public can walk, skip and run right through it. I even talked to a 72nd street bus driver who loved it because he could see the gates from blocks away!
The saffron color is purposely designed to be the exact complement to the gray green of the environment at this time of the year. It reminded me of Tibetan prayer flags and Buddhist monk's robes.
In my twenty plus years of living in this city, I have to say that Sunday was one of the most joyous days I've ever seen in Central Park! And I also noticed that the crowds were smiling and very peaceful and friendly to each other, which is not always the case with Park crowds. It was an awe inspiring day! I know there are naysayers(what would NY be without them?), but the vast vast majority I obseved, from Harlem to 59th street, were visibly thrilled.
Even the gentle sound of the flags flapping when the wind passed through was like the sound a sail makes when you are in a sailboat. It was moving and beautiful. Today will be gray, and my mother and I can't wait to go there and see them in all their wonderful color bringing joy and warmth to the surroundings.
I signed up to work on the crews, but couldn't take park as a result of not being able to get the time off of work. How I wish I could have participated!! It is a grand success which will be remembered for generations.
I think this will be an incredible 2 weeks!!!
I have been working for the NYC Parks department as a Parktender volunteer for five years, and I've seen alot of public behavior in the park of all kinds, I must spend probably a third of my volunteer hour cleaning up defacement of the park by various people, and pets, etc.).
IMO, this is very much a NYC thing, although it will attract an international audience.
Cristo and Jean-Claude are longtime NYers, and have dedicated much of their time for the last 20 plus years to work with the communities surrounding the park, and the Parks department to achieve a way to install this glorious work and still repect "nature" in the Park, (which is entirely man-made). That is one of the most wonderful things about it, it is constructed in a way that turns no soil, and disturbs not a single branch of a tree. Unlike many public works of art, all members of the public can walk, skip and run right through it. I even talked to a 72nd street bus driver who loved it because he could see the gates from blocks away!
The saffron color is purposely designed to be the exact complement to the gray green of the environment at this time of the year. It reminded me of Tibetan prayer flags and Buddhist monk's robes.
In my twenty plus years of living in this city, I have to say that Sunday was one of the most joyous days I've ever seen in Central Park! And I also noticed that the crowds were smiling and very peaceful and friendly to each other, which is not always the case with Park crowds. It was an awe inspiring day! I know there are naysayers(what would NY be without them?), but the vast vast majority I obseved, from Harlem to 59th street, were visibly thrilled.
Even the gentle sound of the flags flapping when the wind passed through was like the sound a sail makes when you are in a sailboat. It was moving and beautiful. Today will be gray, and my mother and I can't wait to go there and see them in all their wonderful color bringing joy and warmth to the surroundings.
I signed up to work on the crews, but couldn't take park as a result of not being able to get the time off of work. How I wish I could have participated!! It is a grand success which will be remembered for generations.
I think this will be an incredible 2 weeks!!!
Feb 15th, 2005, 03:18 AM
#34
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Oh, I almost forgot,
Gekko, I am one of the ones who cleans up after people in the park when I'm not working in the planted areas, and we're always looking for volunteers, since the public has been trampling the green areas since the park began. This is the normal state of affairs. Actually, it was LESS trampled than usual Sunday.
SO you're more than welcome to join me any day. There's always work to do!!! Here's an open invitation. I put in 400 hours a year, but if you have even 4 hours available, we welcome some help!!!
Gekko, I am one of the ones who cleans up after people in the park when I'm not working in the planted areas, and we're always looking for volunteers, since the public has been trampling the green areas since the park began. This is the normal state of affairs. Actually, it was LESS trampled than usual Sunday.
SO you're more than welcome to join me any day. There's always work to do!!! Here's an open invitation. I put in 400 hours a year, but if you have even 4 hours available, we welcome some help!!!
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