the gates
Feb 14th, 2005 | 05:15 AM
#81
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,691
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Mini Trip Report to the Gates -
We - my husband, our friend Phyllis, our dog IGY Pup, and I - left central Pennsylvania Sunday around 10:00 am. By 1:00 pm we were pulling into the parking garage near 79th and West End, our regular garage when we visit the city. Because of all the traffic we were concerned about getting a space, and as it was, we got the last one.
If it was just me, I would have walked briskly towards the park in anticipation of seeing the Gates, but IGY insisted on peeing on every spot in NYC that another dog had already peed on, so it was a leisurly stroll. IGY was wearing his orange coat in honor of the occaision, and getting quite a few glances from the passing crowd.
As we approached the park, I started feeling giddy as I caught my first glimpse of the saffron "laundry". We entered the park at 81st and Central Park West and were immediately mesmerized, whipping out our cameras to capture just the right moment.
At first, there was only a slight breeze, so the fabric was barely moving. Then suddenly the wind picked up and the fabric started flapping around, as if suddenly coming alive. We started wandering aimlessly, until we saw a crowd that had gathered so we went over to investigate.
Much to our delight we discovered a group of workers installing a gate. We watched as they hoisted the gate into placed, then waited paitently as they tightened the bolts. Then, the unfurling of the fabric took place (see ellenem's post of 2/12 3:16pm) and a large roar erupted from the crowd.
We wandered around for 3 hours, mostly between 81st Street where we entered and 69th Street where we exited. I have NEVER seen the park so crowded, but it wasn't a concentrated crowd - it was spread out over the whole park. (Frederick Law Olmsted surely must have been smiling yesterday.) Since IGY was in his matching orange/saffron coat, he was getting a lot of attention. At least a dozen people asked to take his picture and I saw many more just snapping off a photo of him. I heard one little girl say to her mom, "Look, that dog is a mini-gate" (now a new nick-name for IGY).
As the sun started setting in the sky, we noticed the Gates taking on more of an orange glow. I would love to be able to experience it at different times of the day, and in different weather (what would it look like if it was coated with freezing rain?). But I'm happy for the time we had and do not regret the six hour ride for a three hour walk in the park. My only disappointment was that we didn't arrive early enough to obtain one of the free fabric samples that they are handing out. Oh well, I guess I have two rolls of film as souvenirs.
For anyone planning on visiting the Gates, I found the bathroom just outside the Delacourte Theatre to be amazingly uncrowded (I was 4th in line!!). The line for the bathroom at the visitor's center by the Mall and Sheep Meadow snaked around the building, at least 50 people in line, if not more.
What a beautiful experience we had in the park on Sunday. Peace.
>-
Robyn
We - my husband, our friend Phyllis, our dog IGY Pup, and I - left central Pennsylvania Sunday around 10:00 am. By 1:00 pm we were pulling into the parking garage near 79th and West End, our regular garage when we visit the city. Because of all the traffic we were concerned about getting a space, and as it was, we got the last one.
If it was just me, I would have walked briskly towards the park in anticipation of seeing the Gates, but IGY insisted on peeing on every spot in NYC that another dog had already peed on, so it was a leisurly stroll. IGY was wearing his orange coat in honor of the occaision, and getting quite a few glances from the passing crowd.
As we approached the park, I started feeling giddy as I caught my first glimpse of the saffron "laundry". We entered the park at 81st and Central Park West and were immediately mesmerized, whipping out our cameras to capture just the right moment.
At first, there was only a slight breeze, so the fabric was barely moving. Then suddenly the wind picked up and the fabric started flapping around, as if suddenly coming alive. We started wandering aimlessly, until we saw a crowd that had gathered so we went over to investigate.
Much to our delight we discovered a group of workers installing a gate. We watched as they hoisted the gate into placed, then waited paitently as they tightened the bolts. Then, the unfurling of the fabric took place (see ellenem's post of 2/12 3:16pm) and a large roar erupted from the crowd.
We wandered around for 3 hours, mostly between 81st Street where we entered and 69th Street where we exited. I have NEVER seen the park so crowded, but it wasn't a concentrated crowd - it was spread out over the whole park. (Frederick Law Olmsted surely must have been smiling yesterday.) Since IGY was in his matching orange/saffron coat, he was getting a lot of attention. At least a dozen people asked to take his picture and I saw many more just snapping off a photo of him. I heard one little girl say to her mom, "Look, that dog is a mini-gate" (now a new nick-name for IGY).
As the sun started setting in the sky, we noticed the Gates taking on more of an orange glow. I would love to be able to experience it at different times of the day, and in different weather (what would it look like if it was coated with freezing rain?). But I'm happy for the time we had and do not regret the six hour ride for a three hour walk in the park. My only disappointment was that we didn't arrive early enough to obtain one of the free fabric samples that they are handing out. Oh well, I guess I have two rolls of film as souvenirs.
For anyone planning on visiting the Gates, I found the bathroom just outside the Delacourte Theatre to be amazingly uncrowded (I was 4th in line!!). The line for the bathroom at the visitor's center by the Mall and Sheep Meadow snaked around the building, at least 50 people in line, if not more.
What a beautiful experience we had in the park on Sunday. Peace.
>-Robyn
Feb 14th, 2005 | 05:29 AM
#82
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,181
Likes: 0
From today's New York Post:
Hue and Cry: We've Been Had by Con 'Artists'
WAKE me when these hideous things are gone!
It's time to let the truth be known: "The Gates" — that manically promoted, ludicrously expensive sculpture project now infesting Central Park — is the artistic equivalent of a yard that's been strewn with stained toilet paper by juvenile delinquents on Halloween.
It is the defacement of beauty, not its creation — a fraud perpetrated on the people by no-talent hypemasters and their chief cheerleader in City Hall.
Please, make them go away!
Walking into the park yesterday, I was assaulted by thousands of what looked like shower curtains twisting in the wind. I had found "The Gates."
Like a sucker in a game of three-card monte, I'd noticed I was about to be taken for a fool — and I'd ignored them.
The advance buzz had been all-consuming. "The Gates" was presented as the ticket for our stubborn, precious, maddening city to be elevated into something of a quasi-Eurotrash capital (except where the natives bathe regularly).
The artists seemed cute and quirky enough. And the mayor was positively giddy about it. That should have been the kiss of doom.
Now I realize we all were pulled into a kind of mass hysteria orchestrated by a couple of charismatic snake-oil salesmen — also known as the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude — and their pretentious booster, Mayor Bloomberg.
"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?
It's enough of a sin that "The Gates" overpowers Central Park's soaring, hypnotic beauty. But the color of these bed sheets, plunked down on metal frames every 12 feet throughout the park, is so atrocious that the project's creators ought to be charged with assault.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude claim that the hue of the weirdly pleated cloth is "saffron." But, as any American junior-high-school kid will tell you, the precise shade is "vomit orange."
"I can't get over how much it looks like an advertisement for Home Depot," said a laughing auxiliary cop I ran into.
And he said he actually liked them.
"A poet could say it looks like women's skirts," said Maureen Pielli, who drove down from West Chester, Pa.
"But the color!" said her husband, Arthur, who just couldn't get past it.
"I'm not impressed," said a young woman who works in the park making fanciful balloon animals for kids — an artistic feat that I'd like to see Christo and Jeanne-Claude match.
But that would take skill.
*****
Hue and Cry: We've Been Had by Con 'Artists'
WAKE me when these hideous things are gone!
It's time to let the truth be known: "The Gates" — that manically promoted, ludicrously expensive sculpture project now infesting Central Park — is the artistic equivalent of a yard that's been strewn with stained toilet paper by juvenile delinquents on Halloween.
It is the defacement of beauty, not its creation — a fraud perpetrated on the people by no-talent hypemasters and their chief cheerleader in City Hall.
Please, make them go away!
Walking into the park yesterday, I was assaulted by thousands of what looked like shower curtains twisting in the wind. I had found "The Gates."
Like a sucker in a game of three-card monte, I'd noticed I was about to be taken for a fool — and I'd ignored them.
The advance buzz had been all-consuming. "The Gates" was presented as the ticket for our stubborn, precious, maddening city to be elevated into something of a quasi-Eurotrash capital (except where the natives bathe regularly).
The artists seemed cute and quirky enough. And the mayor was positively giddy about it. That should have been the kiss of doom.
Now I realize we all were pulled into a kind of mass hysteria orchestrated by a couple of charismatic snake-oil salesmen — also known as the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude — and their pretentious booster, Mayor Bloomberg.
"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?
It's enough of a sin that "The Gates" overpowers Central Park's soaring, hypnotic beauty. But the color of these bed sheets, plunked down on metal frames every 12 feet throughout the park, is so atrocious that the project's creators ought to be charged with assault.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude claim that the hue of the weirdly pleated cloth is "saffron." But, as any American junior-high-school kid will tell you, the precise shade is "vomit orange."
"I can't get over how much it looks like an advertisement for Home Depot," said a laughing auxiliary cop I ran into.
And he said he actually liked them.
"A poet could say it looks like women's skirts," said Maureen Pielli, who drove down from West Chester, Pa.
"But the color!" said her husband, Arthur, who just couldn't get past it.
"I'm not impressed," said a young woman who works in the park making fanciful balloon animals for kids — an artistic feat that I'd like to see Christo and Jeanne-Claude match.
But that would take skill.
*****
Feb 14th, 2005 | 05:47 AM
#83
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,735
Likes: 0
Not sure that I would call the gates hidious just not very impressive. I do appreciate art was at the met the day before. Went to the gates on Sunday. Just not sure that the artists achieved their goal of lifting people up. The blue umbrellas in japan seemed more impressive in photos than the gates did. Friends thought for the purpose the material could have been more interesting in color.
ehhh....you want to go because it is such an event and it is more interesting to see the million people who come out to marvel. So many people reaching up to touch the fabric almost to say, "is that all"? I think this is what the art is also about bringing people into the park at almost the peak of winter. You don't see this number of people in the park in winter.
Certainly you want to come just not sure it will impress all.
ehhh....you want to go because it is such an event and it is more interesting to see the million people who come out to marvel. So many people reaching up to touch the fabric almost to say, "is that all"? I think this is what the art is also about bringing people into the park at almost the peak of winter. You don't see this number of people in the park in winter.
Certainly you want to come just not sure it will impress all.
Feb 14th, 2005 | 05:54 AM
#84
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,916
Likes: 0
I spent a large part of Saturday, and a few hours on Sunday, in Central Park, and I found the experience overwhelming, in a very positive sense.
I think many of the posters aren't appreciating the full magnitude of the project, which doesn't merely encompass the 7,500 gates meandering throughout the park.
One of the most impressive aspects, in my opinion, was the artists' shear fortitude that they could pull this off, and the massive coordination necessary to install the gates.
I think its an expression of grasping toward the impossible, and achieving the seemingly unachievable. At least that's one of the messages that I took away, and its a very positive one.
I spent at least eight hours in the park, and I didn't hear any negative comments, not from any of the thousands of visitors, local and foreign, speaking dozens of languages. The project did manage to pull thousands into the park who would have spent their weekends elsewhere, and there was a vibrancy and sense of joy not typically experienced in NY on a warm February afternoon.
Michael
I think many of the posters aren't appreciating the full magnitude of the project, which doesn't merely encompass the 7,500 gates meandering throughout the park.
One of the most impressive aspects, in my opinion, was the artists' shear fortitude that they could pull this off, and the massive coordination necessary to install the gates.
I think its an expression of grasping toward the impossible, and achieving the seemingly unachievable. At least that's one of the messages that I took away, and its a very positive one.
I spent at least eight hours in the park, and I didn't hear any negative comments, not from any of the thousands of visitors, local and foreign, speaking dozens of languages. The project did manage to pull thousands into the park who would have spent their weekends elsewhere, and there was a vibrancy and sense of joy not typically experienced in NY on a warm February afternoon.
Michael
Feb 14th, 2005 | 06:11 AM
#85
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,735
Likes: 0
Hi Michael,
I think there were 7700 gates, I was well aware of that. I just did not think that volume added to the complexity of this project. Hard to believe you did not hear one negative comment, not one "I don't get it". I found myself explaining the artist’s intentions to people a few times.
I am not saying we all need to trash it here. Just think when you are dealing with New Yorkers who do often come with a lot of previous exposure to art, we just expect more. …Certainly after all the fan fare this project received. But hey glad you enjoyed yourself certainly everyone has a different experience. Like I said above it is an event that people don't want to miss for the shear spectacle of it all. Just not sure it impresses everyone or even most as a great work of art. To me it really was much more linked to the artists ego, planting projects all over the globe. That is a gut impression only.
I think there were 7700 gates, I was well aware of that. I just did not think that volume added to the complexity of this project. Hard to believe you did not hear one negative comment, not one "I don't get it". I found myself explaining the artist’s intentions to people a few times.
I am not saying we all need to trash it here. Just think when you are dealing with New Yorkers who do often come with a lot of previous exposure to art, we just expect more. …Certainly after all the fan fare this project received. But hey glad you enjoyed yourself certainly everyone has a different experience. Like I said above it is an event that people don't want to miss for the shear spectacle of it all. Just not sure it impresses everyone or even most as a great work of art. To me it really was much more linked to the artists ego, planting projects all over the globe. That is a gut impression only.
Feb 14th, 2005 | 06:29 AM
#87
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,749
Likes: 0
The figure of 20 million is about right. The artists paid for everything, right down to the extra security costs. Meanwhile the sales of the books, and various memorabilia are also raising money for several
New York charitable causes.
From the online gift shop: http://www.the-gates-at-central-park.com/
"Christo and Jeanne-Claude derive no income from the sale of The Gates merchandise. Proceeds will benefit Nurture New York's Nature Inc. and the arts, Central Park and other New York City Parks."
In addition, it is understood that the areas where the gates have been assembled for the two weeks will be cleaned up and restored "better" than before the gates happened. Let's not also overlook the money that comes in to the area from the massive numbers of people who are there to enjoy and spend money in various ways as well. As mentioned above -- there are never this many people in the park during the winter.
New York charitable causes.
From the online gift shop: http://www.the-gates-at-central-park.com/
"Christo and Jeanne-Claude derive no income from the sale of The Gates merchandise. Proceeds will benefit Nurture New York's Nature Inc. and the arts, Central Park and other New York City Parks."
In addition, it is understood that the areas where the gates have been assembled for the two weeks will be cleaned up and restored "better" than before the gates happened. Let's not also overlook the money that comes in to the area from the massive numbers of people who are there to enjoy and spend money in various ways as well. As mentioned above -- there are never this many people in the park during the winter.
Feb 14th, 2005 | 06:48 AM
#90
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,142
Likes: 0
Patrick, thanks for pointing that out - again!
I'm sure the folks who say the artists could have spent their money better elsewhere love getting suggestions on where they should spend THEIR money...
I hope to zip up and check this installation out myself. Of course there is always more to se at the Met as well.
Great art is often controversial - some will love it and others will hate it. Often everyone hates it when it first opens (Picasso, Beethoven, Stravinsky, etc.)
I'm sure the folks who say the artists could have spent their money better elsewhere love getting suggestions on where they should spend THEIR money...
I hope to zip up and check this installation out myself. Of course there is always more to se at the Met as well.
Great art is often controversial - some will love it and others will hate it. Often everyone hates it when it first opens (Picasso, Beethoven, Stravinsky, etc.)
Feb 14th, 2005 | 06:51 AM
#91
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
I appreciate the donation of, what is it $3 million to the park or whatever, but the other $17 mill they spent on the 'art' would have really done wonders. By all means, the exhibit is there and everyone interested should come in and see it.
I do want to say, however selfish it may sound, that I LIKE the park in the winter when it is quiet and half empty. I like hearing the birds, reading the inscriptions on all the statues, and searching the treetops for Pale Male and Lola. The zoo aviary is a wonderful respite from the cold, taking you away to the tropics for an hour or so. It is sad that it took this project to get people into the park, when there are many other reasons for enjoying it-all throughout the year.
I do want to say, however selfish it may sound, that I LIKE the park in the winter when it is quiet and half empty. I like hearing the birds, reading the inscriptions on all the statues, and searching the treetops for Pale Male and Lola. The zoo aviary is a wonderful respite from the cold, taking you away to the tropics for an hour or so. It is sad that it took this project to get people into the park, when there are many other reasons for enjoying it-all throughout the year.
Feb 14th, 2005 | 07:00 AM
#92
Guest
Posts: n/a
The figure quoted on CNN this morning was 21 million.
What an experience this must be! I would love to see The Gates in person--I got chills this morning just seeing the aerial view on t.v.. Too bad it has such a limited run. For me it is visually stunning.
What an experience this must be! I would love to see The Gates in person--I got chills this morning just seeing the aerial view on t.v.. Too bad it has such a limited run. For me it is visually stunning.
Feb 14th, 2005 | 07:09 AM
#94
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
I don't understand the depth of this negatism about The Gates. You don't like Cristo and Jeanne-Claude's creation, fine. But, this condemnation of the city, the artists and, yes, those of us who enjoyed the experience....I don't understand it.
Is it great art? Who's to say? I'm still not sure where I stand on that question. But, it was a marvelous happening, event and experience.
It was a joy a spend a delightful day walking through The Gates, seeing the multitudes of smiling faces (even on those who didn't particularly like The Gates), watching strangers talking with each other and volunteering to take photos, having a pleasant chat with the interesting volunteers and taking advantage of a great photo op!
And, I was further delighted to realize some of the side benefits. For one, the crowds a the Met (the largest we had ever seen) were a joy for two reasons: It was great to see so many enjoying this wonderful cultural facility, and it was just great to see some much much-needed revenue flowing into its coffers!
Is it great art? Who's to say? I'm still not sure where I stand on that question. But, it was a marvelous happening, event and experience.
It was a joy a spend a delightful day walking through The Gates, seeing the multitudes of smiling faces (even on those who didn't particularly like The Gates), watching strangers talking with each other and volunteering to take photos, having a pleasant chat with the interesting volunteers and taking advantage of a great photo op!
And, I was further delighted to realize some of the side benefits. For one, the crowds a the Met (the largest we had ever seen) were a joy for two reasons: It was great to see so many enjoying this wonderful cultural facility, and it was just great to see some much much-needed revenue flowing into its coffers!
Feb 14th, 2005 | 07:29 AM
#96
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
We experienced "The Gates" yesterday. It was a great day, especially because the sky was so blue and the air was so crisp.
Prior to heading to the park, we chatted with some strangers in the basement cafeteria of Whole Foods in Columbus Circle. They told us to look for the people with the tennis balls on poles - they were giving out swatches (free) of the Gates. My husband and I had a fun time trying to locate some of these tennis balls - the people were easy enough to find, but many of them had run out of swatches. (We did accomplish our mission and returned home with a little Gates souvenir, though!)
The Gates themselves, in my opinion, aren't necessarily that amazing. But what is amazing is the work that it took to get a project this big off the ground. The reaction of the people in the park was amazing! Everyone was out walking and enjoying, marveling at the spectacle. Yes, there were a lot of people out - much more than on a regular Sunday! - but not huge crowds (like the Christmas Tree at Rock Plaza can sometimes have).
Kudos to Christo and Jeanne Claude for persisting, and for all the work and time and money they put into this project.
Prior to heading to the park, we chatted with some strangers in the basement cafeteria of Whole Foods in Columbus Circle. They told us to look for the people with the tennis balls on poles - they were giving out swatches (free) of the Gates. My husband and I had a fun time trying to locate some of these tennis balls - the people were easy enough to find, but many of them had run out of swatches. (We did accomplish our mission and returned home with a little Gates souvenir, though!)
The Gates themselves, in my opinion, aren't necessarily that amazing. But what is amazing is the work that it took to get a project this big off the ground. The reaction of the people in the park was amazing! Everyone was out walking and enjoying, marveling at the spectacle. Yes, there were a lot of people out - much more than on a regular Sunday! - but not huge crowds (like the Christmas Tree at Rock Plaza can sometimes have).
Kudos to Christo and Jeanne Claude for persisting, and for all the work and time and money they put into this project.
Feb 14th, 2005 | 07:36 AM
#97
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,869
Likes: 0
We saw the "Running Fence" on a driving trip from San Diego to the North Coast wine country.
Our thoughts at the time were the same as now: "California's prime contribution to culture is right turn on red".
Please substitute any artist, place or thing you like for "California"
M
Our thoughts at the time were the same as now: "California's prime contribution to culture is right turn on red".
Please substitute any artist, place or thing you like for "California"
M
Feb 14th, 2005 | 10:25 AM
#98
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
"To me it looked like a huge construction zone with orange flags waving about."
Couldn't have said it any better myself.
If I want to see modern art I can visit museums...on weekends and most week night I enjoy running through the park peacefully. I can't wait until this entire fiasco is over. Maybe I just don't "get it" but in my opinion its one gigantic eyesore.
Couldn't have said it any better myself.
If I want to see modern art I can visit museums...on weekends and most week night I enjoy running through the park peacefully. I can't wait until this entire fiasco is over. Maybe I just don't "get it" but in my opinion its one gigantic eyesore.
Feb 14th, 2005 | 11:35 AM
#100
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
If refusing to be awed by the monstrosity of the effort means that I don't get it, ignorance is definitely bliss!
Maybe it was just me, but it was nice to see people out enjoying themselves in the park. All the curmudgeons appeared to have stayed home. As someone who's in the park most weekends, I can say that the atmosphere was much more pleasant on Sunday than it usually is.
Maybe it was just me, but it was nice to see people out enjoying themselves in the park. All the curmudgeons appeared to have stayed home. As someone who's in the park most weekends, I can say that the atmosphere was much more pleasant on Sunday than it usually is.
