After a long run in Central Park yesterday, I stopped by the restrooms at the Delacorte for some H20. I encountered two tourist couples and asked them their opinion.

"Laughingstock. New York is a laughingstock."

Why? I asked, extremely curious.

Two reasons were offered.

One: "This is New York City.. Is this the best you could do?!?"

Two: "$21 million? For ugly curtains? It looks like a tacky construction zone."

Unfortunately, I agree with them.

I suggested they not offend the pseudo-intellectuals with their "unpopular" opinion, and that they enjoy the duration of their visit to New York.

Gekko - You now have posted your opinion on this about 10 times. You are entitled to your opinion but so is everyone else. I think it's time for you to GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON...

I for one think Christo's next project should be wrapping Gekko's apartment building

Gosh, Gekko. I can't wait until FFR&R. I hope you set the record straight with those tourists. Maybe they will get savvy and come to Florida and view some real art. We do this sort of thing all the time. In between destroying our few remaining natural honest spots, we are constantly striving to embellish nature with art. And we do it cheap, real cheap. After all, art should be cheap, first and foremost. Now let me tell you one example.

I'll get back to you when I think of one.

Don't slay the messenger; I'm reporting what I heard, verbatim.

If certain people refuse to accept the opinions of others, so be it. I don't mind speaking for the silent majority who fear the wrath of the enlightened ninnies who pretend to like this travesty or even have convinced themselves of it.

I love New York; I support the arts with multiple museum memberships; this gates fiasco is an embarrassment.

Christo and Jean-claude, listen to the complaints and finger-wagging of the disgruntled in NYC. Even the tourists don't appreciate you. Please take a sharp turn south to Florida. We need your nirvana here. Once again. This time aim for the Gulf coast. Puh-lease. Pretty puh-lease. Those New Yorkers are taking you for granted -- I promise we will NOT do that, we will be adoring patrons of the arts, however we can get the arts, however you as the artist wants to give it to us. Florida. Once again.

Gekko - We never said we refused to hear the opinions of others. In fact, we've all said that we respect the opinions of others. It would be nice if YOU respected those that like this exhibit but I guess that's asking to much.

sorry should be too much -

Gekko, I appreciate that you have several museum memberships, and I'm wondering what contemporarty artists you find challenging and exciting, or do you merely follow the herd and line up to see Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, etc. What non-mainstream artists do you support?

Do you attend galleries to see new artists, or do you spend your time looking at antiques hanging in the Met.

What was the last exhibit you saw where you really felt challenged?

I said early on in this forum that I don't personally care for Christo's conceptual art. I obviously "see" this kind of art with different eyes, a different perspective. And that's not to say that I'm right, nor to say that I'm wrong...it's just that art is relative...and I don't relate to Christo. I do however, respect others' observations, because I have found that sometimes one can get a "glimpse" into the vision of others.

What I find disturbing here is that both sides are getting bashed by the other. Gekko obviously detests the Gates. Enough said about that, but he's entitled to.

I may be reading this wrong, but thit_cho seems to be bashing Gekko because he apparently only likes "mainstream art". Personally I find this kind of bashing to be particularly disagreeable. Thit_cho says, "or do you merely follow the herd and line up to see Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, etc."
Millions of people have looked at and loved this art...including me. And yet, I do not feel like one of the great migrating wildebeasts when I stop to contemplate one of these masterpieces.

"What non-mainstream artists do you support? Do you attend galleries to see new artists, or do you spend your time looking at antiques hanging in the Met."

Once again, some of the "antiques" hanging in the met are well worth contemplating. And just because something is new (or old) doesn't mean it's worth looking at.

And finally, "What was the last exhibit you saw where you really felt challenged?" Personally, Leonardo Da Vinci's drawings brought tears to my eyes. I saw war, I saw peace and my opinion of the world he lived in changed by seeing the world around him through his eyes. So I was challenged to learn more about him and his era.

And finally, though there is not one all-inclusive definition of art, I believe it is meant to provoke thought and emotion. So whether one likes the Gates or not, it certainly has has done that here.

kamahinaohoku, you've made some excellent points. I especially endorse you plea for more tolerance of other's tastes in art. Fortunately, my skin is thick enough and my self-image strong enough that I am able to chuckle over being referred one of the "enlightened ninnies" because I dared to react favorably to The Gates experience.
I'll even risk public shame and humility by returning to The Gates in a few days.

Vittrad: ...wrapping Gekko's apt. building?...now THAT would require something that changes colors wouldn't it? That does sound more interesting to me! ! Belle.

We just got back Mon. night, the Gates are really nothing to look at, being from the manufacturing industry I guess my criticism is on how easy they are to make, and why didn't I get the work. We asked alot of the locals what they thought and most of them are quite upset at the wasted money, and how it looks like constuction scaffolding. On the other side on the plane ride home a guy had pictures of them on his laptop, with a dreary dark background the Gates look really neat.

Viva the Enlightened Ninnies!
R5

It's not that Gekko doesn't like the art. That isn't the issue here. Some will like it and some will not, but it is nice when people can at least approach their viewing or experinencing it with an open mind. What is clear is that from before he ever saw it Gekko was seemingly obsessed with hating the very idea of the event to begin with.

I've never seen so many people upset with a free $21-million public relations campaign. Do they care when Donald Trump builds casinos then files bankruptcy? Do they care about all the money that goes to sports teams or political campaigns? Why do they care so much about people spending their own money to bring art into a little postage stamp piece of the world? I just don't get it.

One reason a large percentage of New Yorkers are upset is that it's BAD PR.

"It's New York City. Is this the best you could do? And for $21 million? Hanging ugly orange curtains from ugly orange frames?"

And I'm happy to report that people don't seem as afraid to express their actual opinions anymore. Enough of the "silent majority" has spoken up about this embarrassment that people feel comfortable saying "Geez, it really is horrible!"

The wheels are falling off the bandwagon, thankfully. Hopefully such a pathetic spectacle will be avoided in the future.

It is outside of my realm of understanding how a person can be filled with such venom over a piece of art. (Ooops, I forgot, The
Gates isn't art to that person.)

Some people like what they think they're "supposed" to like. Like those Bellagio "fountains" in Las Vegas. A string of faucets in a concrete pond in the desert. breathtaking (sigh)


Get yourselves up to Moosehead Lake, Maine if you want to see a work of art. Or the Virgin River Gorge.

Don't misunderstand my post -- the artists that I listed (Van Gogh, Monet and Picasso) have earned there worldwide reputations for the reason that they are great artists. But the point I was making is that its very easy to point out there greatness, which is virtually indisputable. But its much more difficult to identity new artists that will be proven great, and since Gekko claims to be a member of NY art community (with his several memberships), I am curious what contemporary art he finds intriguing, challenging or noteworthy.