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Perhaps one persuasive point for the Mayor was that
the city has not had to pay a cent towards the cost of the installation.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude raised the estimated $21 million cost
of the project themselves by selling drawings and paintings of 'The
Gates'. They have also paid for police to patrol the park 24 hours
a day. All hotels and restaurants overlooking the park are fully
booked, special parties are being held and it is expected that more
people will come and see 'The Gates' than have been to see the Mona
Lisa since it was painted. All in all, it is hoped that at least
$80 million will be generated by the 16-day event.
The installation of 7,500 gates was set up by over
600 workers paid seven dollars per hour, it took three months to
complete and it covers 23 miles of footpaths throughout the park.
Each 'gate' stands at 16 feet tall, ranges from 5.6 to 18 feet wide
and consists of two steel bases ranging in weight from 613 to 837
lbs. Two upright vinyl poles are bolted at each end, attached with
aluminium-cast corners and across the top is a horizontal pole,
from which a saffron-coloured sheet of fabric hangs, swinging in
the wind. Helpers with long poles are on hand to unhook the fabric
if it gets caught around the crossbar. When the gates are removed,
all the material will be recycled.
During installation the fabric was wrapped around
the horizontal pole of each gate, ready to be unfurled at the opening
ceremony, at 8.30 am on Saturday 12 February 2005. It was a glorious
weekend and it is estimated that in the first two days, 700,000
people came to experience 'The Gates'. Some members of the media
have questioned the definition of the project as 'art', but most
people would judge it a fantastic success.
Both artists live in New York and say that they wanted
to give something back to their home town. Christo will never draw
or paint a project after it has been realised, as he wants people
to enjoy it and for it then to become a memory. In a recent interview,
the couple were asked 'What do you get from this?' Jeanne-Claude
replied: 'What we get is the same as all the other artists, who
have created in total freedom, what they had wished to create and
it is a work of art, of joy and beauty.' Christo continues: '…enjoy,
walk through the gates and enjoy the proportion, the colour. The
fabric is very translucent, when the sun is in the back, the fabric
is almost golden.'
Christo and Jeanne-Claude's next project is to be
called 'Over the River' and is being designed for the Arkansas River,
Colorado, in summer 2007 or 2008. However, for now 'The Gates' has
added a golden orange hue to this already colourful city.
Miguel Benavides
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