bugswife - one t, two r's ...Thanks.

I'm glad you are one with an educated opinion. :)

Will look for you all if we end up in the park on Sunday! If not, I'll be there next weekend.

that'd be two c's. I guess if I can't spell my own name, I can't expect others to either. :">

Back in September I booked a park-view room at the Essex for the sole purpose of viewing The Gates. Can't wait to be there next weekend. I'm an avid photographer and will definitely be posting my pics when I return.

Smoot60, I have been following the progress not only on Christo's website, but on a blog that has mixed opinions along with photos. If you're interested here it is:
http://nycgates.blogspot.com/

Well, I have never had this many replys to one of my posts. Glad to hear so many opinions. As for all of you who live in NYC, you are some of the luckiest people around. I live in a small town in Tennessee, which I adore, but I would love to trade places and live in NYC if only a couple of months. I know it is terribly expensive and crowded but all in all it is a wonder. Please enjoy everything you have. From the new "Spelling Bee" Off Broadway show to The Gates, you should never be bored and even in February you have something to do! Rejoice and be thankful that you live in one of the greatest cities on this planet.

I went to a movie on 34th St and took the #10 bus uptown and started noticing the "gates" at 66th St near Tavern On The Green.

The gates are tall, rectangular collums of metal, in lots of different colours and I could litterally see HUNDREDS of them from the window of the bus as it went uptown. The gates are at every entrance to the park covering the paths leading into the park. I didn't see anything flapping, just litterally TONS of large metal door frames.

$20Million could have paid for a couple of new schools, teachers salaries, housed many homeless, cleaned up some neighborhoods, I think the money could have been put to so many better uses.

$20Million..........

wantsomesun, the reason you saw nothing "flapping" is because the complete sculpture will not be undraped until the morning. And, I think your eyes are playing tricks on you. All of the metal poles are the same color.

PS to smooth60: First, thanks for starting what has been a great thread. Second, thanks for reminding us how lucky we are to be here! You'll get a report on Sunday or Monday.

Be careful! Every time I think of Christo I think of the poor man who was killed by one of his "Umbrella" installations here in California when it blew over in the wind and crushed the art admirer.

Art can kill people - let's be careful out there.

I was in Central Park this morning at about 9:15AM. The unfurling began at about 8:30. It will take most of the day to unfurl all 7,300 gates.

I was surpised by the number of spectators at that early hour and by the number of gates. It was some scene, entering at 59th and 5th. All the pedestrian pathways there are lined with gates. If you know the park, you know that there is a scenic duckpond at that corner. The gates follow the rolling path around the pond, even passing over the bridge. Without leaves on the trees, you can see the gates everywhere, up close and across the park screened by the nude trees.

Bit by bit the gates are unfurled. Groups of people gather to watch different teams do the unfurling. One worker with a long hook reaches up and catches a loop, which pulls a strip across and releases the velcro on the protective sleeve, like opening a FedEx envelope. The sleeve falls away, then the fabric begins to fall, propelled by a long cardboard tube that is wrapped inside. Onlookers must keep back--this tube is about 4 inches in diameter and 8 to 11 feet long. Teams work together to unzip and retrieve sleeves and tubes. They have large handcarts, also painted orange, to transport the tubes.

It was a very festive atmosphere, most people taking photographs, trading cameras to photograph one another, watching unfurling in different locations and cheering. Many families were out with their kids. I heard some informing their teens "You will remember this."

The souvenir stands were doing a brisk business. I bought a magnet--$7--pricey, but it's a special event and all souvenir proceeds go to parks and nature organizations in New York.

I wanted to experience the unfurling, but plan to go back to explore the park more a few times during the installation. I enjoyed walking under the gates, the sun shining through the saffron cloth. The cloth makes nice forms in the breeze, though I can see that the pleats will keep the movements from being too wild in a strong wind.

I love NY.

Thanks for the report ellenem.

No one has posted a website that describes the exhibit, so here's the site provided by the artists:

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

Nice report ellenem! Saw a little on CNN this morning - sure wish I could have been there in person. I'm glad it seems to be getting a good reception.

"Art can kill people - let's be careful out there."

So true. Not to mention that wicked paper cut I got in origami class.

Funny Patrick!
:))
R5

I would urge everyone to read the "appreciation" written by critic Michael Kimmelman on page 1 in today's NY Times. It's entitled, "In Saffron Ribbon, A Billowy Gift to the City." (Sorry, I'm not adept at passing along these urls. Hopefully, another reader will.)
The article made me ever more eager to see it (in about an hour or so).

From the aerial photos that are in the NY Times and other papers this AM, I'd say this art does not have the aerial presence that Cristo's Islands did in Biscayne Bay in 1983. It feels as if there is no "edge" to this. Maybe the idea of huge public art is no longer edgy, rendering Cristo passé.

On the other hand, this might be more of an up-close experience. The verdict is out on that one until we hear from more who view this up-close.

Aside from the artistic aspect of "The Gates" why is there such tourist bashing? This goes on everywhere;the Alaskans hate cruise lines for example. In my state(MA) I heard a proprietor haranguing against tourists in the quaint town of Rockport-it's your bread and butter for crissakes!

wantsomesun,
Christo paid for it himself and NY will benefit from the tourism and the profits from memorabilia. I wouldnt spend my money that way but this unlike the 600 million dollar stadium is a win for NYC. I hope to see it later today.

I am in New York right now and am going to see the exhibit today with some family that lives here. I can see a bit from my hotel window (albeit a sliver between some buildings) and am looking forward to going to see it.

I just got back from Central Park. I was out there at 7:30 this morning when the park was still basically empty except for some hardcore photographers. It was probably a little too early as the sun was still behind the buildings. Around 8:30 I started to get some great photos.

It was pretty amazing - both the scale of this project and the way it looked close up, early in the morning with long shadows and with the bright orange against the deep blue cloudless sky.

Wish I had my own website where I could post some photos...

I will be heading there next weekend.
Where is the best place to enter the park to enjoy this?

I was there today, don't waste your time.

I was in the Park yesterday and today. What a waste. From a high position such as Belvedere Castle, it's mildly interesting, but not really. 23 miles of hanging bedsheets would probably be more entertaining.

I heard mixed reviews from tourists and a majority of negative reviews from New Yorkers.

(Disclaimer: I'm an art lover and member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, Frick & Guggenheim, so back off on the "ain't all art perfect" routine, okay?)

I'm with you on the stadium in Manhattan, we ALREAD have more traffic than we can handle and with a huge new stadium it will only be worse. I've alwasys been into recycling, like we already HAVE stadiums in the city, Yankee, Shea, Meadowlands that are being underutilized, have they not heard of rennovation?

I heard a newscast last night and Jeanne Claude said that the gates were done for their amusement, and if anyone else liked it, it was a bonus,,, it cost $21 Million dollars and lots of police to guard the gates at night, seems to me to be a HUGE waste of money.

Here's the URL, Howard. I'm glad you pointed that out. It's a good article and some interesting points are made. This will be helpful to enjoylife as well. Kimmelman writes about where he thinks are the best locations to view the exhibit.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/13/ar...rtner=homepage

Well, I guess we were in a different part of the park than Gekko today. We heard and saw nothing but joyous reactions from both New Yorkers and tourists while walking through The Gates. Was it great art? Who's to say? (And, yes, we, too, are multi-museum members....but that doesn't qualify us for quality critic status.) I can say that my wife and I enjoyed the experience immensely and we're definitely going back. Our expectations were high and we weren't disappointed.
Other items:
*In response to Tandoori Girl, this is not an exhibit to view from above. In fact, we would recommend not wasting your time on the roof of the Met. That was a big nothing in terms of viewing The Gates. However, go to the Trustees Dining Room on the 4th floor and look out the windows there for a great view. Obviously, you can't go in during dining hours. We just strolled in at around 10 a.m. this morning and were allowed to go to the window.
*We started off at 9:30 at the Met, figuring we'd go up to roof before the crowds. After the brief trip to the roof, we spent about 2 hours walking through The Gates roughly between 90th and 70th Streets behind the museum.
*We've never seen the Met so crowded, nor 5th Avenue between 60th and 80th Streets.
*The mood was celebratory, near carnival like.
*I can't say what the best viewing spots are. However, the aforementioned appreciation in the Times does mention what he considers the best viewing spots.
*And, very important for me, it was a great photo op!

PS: If today was any indication, The Gates is a huge boost for tourism in the city!

I'm so surprised by the tone of some of the the criticism of "The Gates" .. . . as if the cost of creating art was somehow central to it's worth. Does that mean that pencil and paper sketches are the only worthwhile medum because it doesn't cost too much or "waste" anything? Where's the dollar cut-off point with this line of thinking? If it only cost 1 million? half a million? . . .

But I do agree that the best art evokes thought, controversy, reaction . . . Anyway, here's my SUBJECTIVE report.

Saturday afternoon we travelled uptown to 96th and Broadway on the train, then hiked east to the park. As we got closer the orange flashing thru the passing traffic and the bare trees could almost be mistaken for road work signs. But then the uniformity of line and form takes shape: the angles line up against the curves of the landscape, the curtains billow back and forth and curve against the rectangles of the metal stands. In terms of pure line, design and visual beauty, I think The Gates are stunning. Make a special effort to go to parts of the park that have water - the artists have paid special attention to contrast the angularity of the gates with soft curves of the ponds and streams.

Everywhere we walked Saturday and today, people were smiling, posing for pictures, talking and looking. It is another kind of New York experience - temporal, communal, urban. I find it hilarious that people are complaining about disturbing the "natural beauty" of the park - as wonderful as Central Park is, there's very little that's "natural" - it is a designed, man-made construct - in fact that's exactly the first sentence the docent from the Municipal Arts Society used in the tour I happened onto this morning.

I also got to go to a friends' apartment yesterday - they're lucky enough to have a new place on CPW and 101st street. From the 7th floor of the building, looking at the orange glowing thru the gray day and the bare trees, we tried to imagine what other color would have worked. The orange, somehow seems perfect. I was there with 5 or 6 New York City art teachers and photographers - they were all completely enthusiastic, making plans for bringing their students to the park this week to experience the work.

Most of us put up with a lot to live here. It's really expensive, and it's hard to get around sometimes and in the back our brains is the nagging idea that we're all targets for - well, for whoever. But then for 17 days, 2 artists kind of bring us up short, make us stop and look, once again and our great great city. I'm so happy to live here - and I'm so proud of my home that I'll even encourage more people to come see this work - even if you do walk too slowly.

mp, my profound compliments. You have so well expressed the true essence of The Gates experience!

Since Gekko made clear in his post two days ago that he wasn't looking forward to the "chaos" and made comments about soothing egos, etc., is anyone surprised he didn't love the end result?

I doubt if the actual experience will change many minds. Those who love the "idea" of art happenings will appreciate what's happening, whether they actually like the "art" itself or not. And those who begrudge such events aren't likely to enter the gates and suddenly change their minds or their attitudes. People who hate the idea are going to focus on the negative. People who love the idea are going to focus on the positive. Yes, it is pretty much that simple.

The local news Channel 4 said that NYC was packed like they had never seen before. They also said that Christo is paying for the extra security.

mp, thank you for your vivid and articulate description of The Gates - I am so looking forward to seeing it later this week.

It is so cool! I want to go! I am soooo jealous!!!!!!!!!!!! wow.

I've just returned from my book club and, needless to say, the topic was not <i>State of Fear</i> but 'the gates.'

The overall impression -- completely underwhelming and a colossal waste of resources.

I'm sure that's not as popular as &quot;oohing&quot; and &quot;ahhing&quot; over it -- take it or leave it.

If you plan to visit New York just to see the gates -- Thank you, and I apologize. Enjoy everything the city has to offer!

Interesting segment on 60 minutes just now about The Gates and about the Christos. It was sure obvious that the crowds they took pictures of were enjoying the whole thing. But of course most of the people who think it's silly, will probably stay away as they should.
To be honest, I agree there's something silly about the whole idea. Maybe that's exactly why I wish I were there to experience it.

Hi
there's a smaller discussion about this going on in the Europe forum, if any of you are interested

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34566953

I wanted to add, if the Gates were ever going to look good, today was the day, briskly cold, but sunny and a bright blue sky. I can't say I was overwhelmed with the sight (saw it both on ground level and from the roof garden of the Met museum) but it was so cheering, I thought. The ochre/saffron fabric just seemed to light up the leafless park. Everyone seemed in a good humor today, the cafes and coffee shops for blocks around were packed

I went today to see it and really enjoyed it. Once again, it's something that you have to walk through to appreciate. The fabric blowing in the breeze creates different patterns and the fabric turns a different color when it is hit by the sun. Really a great experience.

Silly is the right word for it. $20 million dollars? For two weeks? Shame on them.

I am reporting back too. I am sorry. I gave it my all. I just can't get into it. To me it looked like a huge construction zone with orange flags waving about. Based on conversation with some people I chatted up at the park, many of them felt the same way, but felt funny admitting it. Yes, light shining through fabric is pretty, but not worth the hoopla. Not saying that you shouldn't see it if you are interested or that it shouldn't have been done, I just don't care for it at all. And just curiously throwing this question out there--if your next door neighbor put a couple of those things in their backyard to see the pretty fabric in the sunlight, how fast would you insist they come down?

Saw the Gates on Saturday. Thought it was a lovely experience.

C and JC have said that the installation was not meant to be viewed from above, and like many, many people, I ignored that and went to the roof garden at the Met first. Not all that impressive. The Gates are not high enough to really see through the trees, and we only spent a few minutes.

But, from the ground, it is a whole different story. Central Park is not flat, and the views of the bright orange gates across the valleys and dips of the landscape was gorgeous.

But I think the best thing about the installation is that it brought both tourists and tired, hungover New Yorkers (or maybe that was just me?) together on a cold, gray February day to celebrate the Park, and the city.