"The Gates" of Central Park

[Karl-G]

Here is a nice suite of 19 photos I found of the new sculptural installation in New York by Christo and his wife Jeanne-Claude. They are known as "The Gates of Central Park" and were opened last Saturday, Feb. 12 and will remain on display until Feb. 28 when they will be completely dismantled and removed. I like them.

 

http://www.kottke.org/photos/thegates0205/index.html

[Chuck50]

Thanks for sharing with us. HUGS Chuck

[HotdadENYC]

I visited Central Park earlier tonight to view "The Gates." I found them interesting--something different--but I wasn't really all that inspired by them. In my case, it was truly a sense that if you've seen one, you've seen all several thousand of them.

 

I DO believe, however, that it was an impressive and ambitious project to set something like this up. I may just go back and watch them being dismantled.

 

On another note, despite the HEAVY police presence at the park's perimeter, presumably to safeguard the gates, and because the weather was a calm 55 degrees, cruising was at an all time high tonight.

 

If only I had had the good sense to set up a refreshment stand.

 

hd NYC

[Guest zipperzone]

>I visited Central Park earlier tonight to view "The Gates."

>I found them interesting--something different--but I wasn't

>really all that inspired by them. In my case, it was truly a

>sense that if you've seen one, you've seen all several

>thousand of them.

 

Although I understand that the cost of this display was born by the artist and his wife, I cannot help but think what a gross waste of money was involved in setting up this temporary exhibit.

 

The costs must have be astronomical - think how many homeless people could have been helped with shelter and/or food with the money they spent on what was in my opinion a vanity exhibit concocted to massage his ego.

 

It's not my idea of art, nor were most of his previous installations.

[HotdadENYC]

I believe the cost was in the neighborhood of $23 million, and was, as you point out, funded by the artist and his wife.

 

When I said that I found the gates uninspiring, I was being kind. I too think that the money could have been better spent (even as a donation to a museum or some other cultural institution or even to help keep some NYC schools open).

 

Some artists achieve fame and recognition because of their talent; others because of their spending power.

 

hd NYC

[jack]

Karl, thanks for the wonderful pictures. I like them too.:-)

[Karl-G]

Other Christo Works

 

Here is a site with many good photos of other Christo projects: the Wrapped Reichstag in Berlin, the Wrapped Pont Neuf in Paris, the Wrapped Coast of Australia, Running Fence in California, Umbrellas in Japan and California, Valley Curtain in Colorado, Wrapped Sidewalks in Kansas City, etc. Good explanations of the works as well.

 

http://christojeanneclaude.net/si.html

 

Click on "Some Artworks" and choose the various projects.

[CT Dick]

>The costs must have be astronomical - think how many homeless

>people could have been helped with shelter and/or food with

>the money they spent on what was in my opinion a vanity

>exhibit concocted to massage his ego.

 

1. It was not JUST to massage his ego. When I walked through the park I loved The Gates and so did thousands of people around me.

 

2. Think of how many homeless people could have been helped if they hadn't painted the Sistine Chapel or Mona Lisa.

 

Dick

[Flower]

They make an otherwise beautiful section of the park look like a construction zone!

[HotdadENYC]

>2. Think of how many homeless people could have been helped if

>they hadn't painted the Sistine Chapel or Mona Lisa.

>

 

The Sistine Chapen was commissioned and paid for by a Pope; the Mona Lisa was a private commission. They were both ultimately executed in areas that were privileged and guarded. AND, they were both works of supreme art.

 

I think its unfair to compare the Gates to these works of art. 500 years from now, in my opinion, NO ONE will give a shit about some orange barriers in Central Park.

 

hd NYC

[Guest zipperzone]

>>The costs must have be astronomical - think how many

>homeless

>>people could have been helped with shelter and/or food with

>>the money they spent on what was in my opinion a vanity

>>exhibit concocted to massage his ego.

>

>1. It was not JUST to massage his ego. When I walked through

>the park I loved The Gates and so did thousands of people

>around me.

>

>2. Think of how many homeless people could have been helped if

>they hadn't painted the Sistine Chapel or Mona Lisa.

 

Well I don't think the cost to paint the Mona Lisa came anywhere near approaching 23 million dollars. A few pots of paint, a hunk of canvas, and if the artist received any money, I'd bet it was minimal.

 

As for the Sistine Chapel - well we all know how those Catholics spend money sucked from the poor every Sunday for their own excessive pleasures!

 

Now I suppose some anal member will click on the alert button to have this relegated to the Politics, Religion and War forum!

[Guest zipperzone]

>I think its unfair to compare the Gates to these works of art.

> 500 years from now, in my opinion, NO ONE will give a shit

>about some orange barriers in Central Park.

 

Quite frankly - there is a whole mess of people who don't give a shit about them right now!

[HotdadENYC]

>Quite frankly - there is a whole mess of people who don't give

>a shit about them right now!

 

Zipper, you're a pisser (no pun intended). Thanks for the supporting opinion; join me in the dismantling party on 2/28.

 

Regards,

 

hd NYC

[HotdadENYC]

> They make an otherwise beautiful

>section of the park look like a construction zone!

 

 

Flower, you nailed it....I was wondering how best to describe the "gates" and you hit it. It DOES look like a major construction zone and for those of us who enjoy the park, NOT JUST to cruise, its an eyesore and impediment.

 

hd NYC

[Trixie]

Having just looked at the photos, I have to agree with Flower. I felt these "Gates" detract from the beauty of the park. (PS.. to the owner of the website with the photos, orange is NOT a complimentary color with blue, it is a contrasting one.) Although I've seen photos of Christo projects I've found intriguing, this is just plain uninteresting. If we're gonna talk "enviromental" art, give me Andy Goldsworthy, any day.

 

La Trix

[seaboy4hire]

I just checked out the picture of the gates and the other website with their other pieces of work and I really feel for you New Yorkers who have to look at those ugly things! As for enviromental art why not plant a tree or something? That would be much more enjoyable.

 

Hugs,

Greg

Greg Seattle Wa [email protected]

http://www.male4malescorts.com/reviews/gregseattle.html

http://seaboy4hire.tripod.com

[Karl-G]

Greg,

 

I'm just curious. When you come to New York, how often do you go walking along the paths of Central Park to enjoy the natural beauty? Are the trees the same kinds or different from Washington? Which flowering shrubs do you think are the most beautiful?

[seaboy4hire]

Karl I wish I could say that I have been to CP but unfortuately I haven't let alone been to NY. But am hoping to make the trek back east in the late summer or early fall.

 

Hugs,

Greg

Greg Seattle Wa [email protected]

http://www.male4malescorts.com/reviews/gregseattle.html

http://seaboy4hire.tripod.com

[HotdadENYC]

Greg, unless I see you first (by me coming to the West Coast), I'd love to show you around NYC, and particularly Central Park. Its an amazing place, full of natural beauty and landscapes, lakes, small mountains, etc.

 

A walk or ride through the park at sunset is pretty romantic; a walk through the park, after sunset, is also pretty romantic, but in a much different way !

 

To many of us who live here, Central Park represents an oasis in the middle of large urban sprawl. And I suppose for that reason, we have some pretty strong views (both positive and negative) about the existence of "The Gates."

 

Regards,

hd NYC