All of the information and images for this blog came from Christo and Jeanne-Claude's website
http://www.christojeanneclaude.net/
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
The Gates
One of their most famous works, The Gates in Central Park New York was completed on February 12, 2005. 7,503 panels of fabric 16 feet tall varied in width from 5 feet 6 inches to 18 feet. Displayed on 25 various walkways over 23 miles in Central Park the free-hanging saffron colored fabric panels were hung horizontally about 7 feet from the ground. Spaced about 12 feet apart The Gates hung for a total of 16 days until the materials were removed and recycled.
600 teams of 8 installed 100 gates per team. The installation included a 5 inch square in which vertical and horizontal poles were extruded in 60 miles of vinyl. The poles were secured with 15,006 steel base footings ranging from 613 to 837 pounds. No holes were made in the ground however all materials were fabricated off site by 7 various manufacturers.
300 additional workers were needed to complete The Gates. These "monitors" assisted in giving the public information of the project. Every worker was compensated and received a hot breakfast. Professional security worked the park after dark to ensure the safety of The Gates.
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 2005 Christo and Jeanne-Claude |
600 teams of 8 installed 100 gates per team. The installation included a 5 inch square in which vertical and horizontal poles were extruded in 60 miles of vinyl. The poles were secured with 15,006 steel base footings ranging from 613 to 837 pounds. No holes were made in the ground however all materials were fabricated off site by 7 various manufacturers.
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 2005 Christo and Jeanne-Claude |
300 additional workers were needed to complete The Gates. These "monitors" assisted in giving the public information of the project. Every worker was compensated and received a hot breakfast. Professional security worked the park after dark to ensure the safety of The Gates.
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 2005 Christo and Jeanne-Claude |
The Wall
On April 6, 1999 the wall of 13,00 oil barrels 85 feet high and 223 feet wide with a depth of 23.7 feet was completed. Located in the Gasometer in Oberhausen this indoor installation designed by Christo and Jeanne-Claude spanned wall to wall in the Gasometer.
The 208 liter capacity barrels were connected to a core made of a steel scaffolding structure in which they were bolted. The whole wall was supported by steel pillars resting on the base of the Gasometer however they were not connected to the steel structure of the Gasometer.
Each barrel was painted various colors; 45% yellow, 30% deep orange, and between 2% and 6.6% of ultramarine blue, sky blue, rock gray, light ivory, and grass green. Weighing about 300 tons the wall was removed and all materials returned for their industrial uses in mid October.
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude The Wall - 13,000 Oil Barrels, Gasometer, Oberhausen, Germany, 1998-99Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1999 Christo |
The 208 liter capacity barrels were connected to a core made of a steel scaffolding structure in which they were bolted. The whole wall was supported by steel pillars resting on the base of the Gasometer however they were not connected to the steel structure of the Gasometer.
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude The Wall - 13,000 Oil Barrels, Gasometer, Oberhausen, Germany, 1998-99Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1999 Christo |
Each barrel was painted various colors; 45% yellow, 30% deep orange, and between 2% and 6.6% of ultramarine blue, sky blue, rock gray, light ivory, and grass green. Weighing about 300 tons the wall was removed and all materials returned for their industrial uses in mid October.
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude The Wall - 13,000 Oil Barrels, Gasometer, Oberhausen, Germany, 1998-99Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1999 Christo |
Wrapped Trees
Designed and fully funded by Christo and Jeanne-Claude the Wrapped Trees were located in the park around Fondation Beyeler, the adjacent meadow, and along the creek of Berower Park at the German border. Originally planned in 1966 the project took years of planning with cooperation of many workers.
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude Wrapped Trees, Fondation Beyeler and Berower Park, Riehen, Switzerland, 1997-98Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1998 Christo |
The wrapping began on November 13, 1998 and was completed 9 days later on November 22. The wrapping was removed on December 14, 1998.
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude Wrapped Trees, Fondation Beyeler and Berower Park, Riehen, Switzerland, 1997-98Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1998 Christo |
Using 592,015 square feet of translucent woven polyester fabric 178 trees were wrapped with 14.3 miles of rope. The height of the trees varying from 82 feet to 6.5 feet the trees created dynamic pieces of art with beautiful volumes of light and shadow.
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude Wrapped Trees, Fondation Beyeler and Berower Park, Riehen, Switzerland, 1997-98Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1998 Christo |
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Wrapped Reichstag
After 24 years of planning, 90 professional climbers and 120 installation workers the Reichstag was officially wrapped completely on June 24, 1995. Remaining wrapped for a total of 14 days, all of the materials were recycled and the project was completely funded by Chriso and Jeanne-Claude.
The entire building was covered by 70 tailor- made fabric panels. About 1,076,390 square feet of polypropylene fabric and 9.7 miles of polypropylene rope covered the facades, towers, and roof of the Reichstag.
Originally built in 1894, Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped the Reichstag in order to emphasize its beauty. The fragile fabric shows the beautiful creases and unique quality of the Reichstag. Highlighting the proportions and features of this building, Christo and Jeanne-Claude designed a masterpiece.
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin, 1971-95Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1995 Christo |
The entire building was covered by 70 tailor- made fabric panels. About 1,076,390 square feet of polypropylene fabric and 9.7 miles of polypropylene rope covered the facades, towers, and roof of the Reichstag.
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin, 1971-95Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1995 Christo |
Originally built in 1894, Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped the Reichstag in order to emphasize its beauty. The fragile fabric shows the beautiful creases and unique quality of the Reichstag. Highlighting the proportions and features of this building, Christo and Jeanne-Claude designed a masterpiece.
Friday, November 25, 2011
The Umbrellas
Christo and Jeanne-Claude designed The Umbrellas to represent the differences and similarities in the way of life and the use of land in Japan and the United States. The 26 million dollar project was completely financed by the couple.The Umbrellas spanned over 12 miles in Ilbaraki and 18 miles in California. About 1,880 workers began at sunrise on October 9, 1991 opening 3,100 umbrellas.
All materials for the umbrellas were assembled in Bakersfield, California where 1,340 blue umbrellas were shipped to Japan. The fabric, aluminum super-structure, steel frame bases, anchors, wooden base supports, bags, and molded base covers were all assembled here with the production of 11 various manufacturers.
"The Umbrellas, free standing dynamic modules, reflected the availability of the land in each valley, creating an invitational inner space, as houses without walls, or temporary settlements and related to the ephemeral character of the work of art."
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| Christo The Umbrellas (Joint Project for Japan and USA) Drawing 1989 in two parts 15 x 96" and 42 x 96" (38 x 244 cm and 106.6 x 244 cm) Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1989 Christo Ref. # 48 |
All materials for the umbrellas were assembled in Bakersfield, California where 1,340 blue umbrellas were shipped to Japan. The fabric, aluminum super-structure, steel frame bases, anchors, wooden base supports, bags, and molded base covers were all assembled here with the production of 11 various manufacturers.
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude The Umbrellas, Japan-USA, 1984-91Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1991 Christo |
"The Umbrellas, free standing dynamic modules, reflected the availability of the land in each valley, creating an invitational inner space, as houses without walls, or temporary settlements and related to the ephemeral character of the work of art."
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude The Umbrellas, Japan-USA, 1984-91Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1991 Christo |
"In the precious and limited space of Japan, the umbrellas were positioned intimately, close together and sometimes following the geometry of the rice fields. In the luxuriant vegetation enriched by water year round, the umbrellas were blue. In the California vastness of uncultivated grazing land, the configuration of the umbrellas was whimsical and spreading in every direction. The brown hills are covered by blond grass. In that dry landscape, the umbrellas were yellow."
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude The Umbrellas, Japan-USA, 1984-91Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1991 Christo |
On October 27, 1991 The Umbrellas were removed and the land was returned to its original state. All of the materials for the umbrellas were recycled.
The Pont Neuf Wrapped
Completed on September 22, 1985 by a staff of 300 professional workers The Pont Neuf was wrapped with 454,178 square feet of woven polyamide fabric. The fabric covered: the sides and vaults of the 12 arches, the parapets down to the ground, the sidewalks and curbs, the street lamps on both sides, the vertical part of the embankment of the western tip of the Île de la Cité, and the Esplanade of the Vert-Galant.
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| Christo The Pont Neuf, Wrapped (Project for Paris) Drawing 1985 in two parts 15 x 96" and 42 x 96" (38 x 244 cm and 106.6 x 244 cm) Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1985 Christo Ref. # 54 |
Tied down by 8 miles of rope and secured by 12.1 tons of steel chain around the base of each tower and 3.3 feet underwater, the fabric stayed covering The Pont Neuf for 14 days.
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude The Pont Neuf Wrapped, Paris, 1975-85Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1985 Christo |
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude The Pont Neuf Wrapped, Paris, 1975-85Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1985 Christo |
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Running Fence
Completed on September 10, 1976 after 42 months of construction north of San Francisco near freeway 101, Running Fence is on the private properties of 59 ranchers and follows the peaks and valleys of the natural land until dropping down at Bodega Bay of the Pacific Ocean. The fence is 18 feet high and 24.5 miles long.
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Christo Running Fence (Project for Sonoma County and Marin County, State of California) Drawing 1975 28 x 22" (71 x 56 cm) Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1975 Christo |
Made out of 2 pieces of heavy woven white nylon fabric of 152 and 780 square feet each, the fence hung from a steel cable which was strung between 2,050 steel poles. No concrete was used to embed the fence 3 feet in the ground but it was braced laterally with guy wires and 14,000 earth anchors.
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Christo and Jeanne-Claude Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California, 1972-76 Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1976 Christo |
Crossing 14 roads Running Fence ran through the town of Valley Ford while leaving room for cars, wildlife, and cattle. Christo and Jeanne-Claude designed the fence to be viewed following 40 miles of public roads in Sonoma and Marin Counties. After 14 days standing, the fence was removed and all of the materials were given to the ranchers.
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| Christo and Jeanne-Claude Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California, 1972-76 Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1976 Christo |
Valley Curtain
After 28 months of working on The Valley Curtain, on August 11, 1972 in Rifle, Colorado, Christo and Jeanne-Claudes massive fabric project was completed. Completely financed by The Valley Curtain Corporation in which Christo and Jeanne-Claude were the presidents no donations or sponsorship were accepted. They sold studies, preparatory drawings and collages, scale models, early works and original lithographs to raise enough money to complete the project.
Suspended at 1,250 feet with a height curving from 356 feet at each end to 182 feet in the middle, the curtain hung in the Rifle gap above highway 325. Remaining clear of the slopes and valley bottom, a skirt had to be attached to the lower part of the curtain to visually complete the area between the thimbles and the ground.
The curtain was secured with 11 cable clamps which connected at 4 main upper cables. 1,368 feet long and 61 tons heavy, the cables were anchored to 864 tons of concrete foundations.
For added insurance an inner cocoon was added and the bottom of the curtain was laced to a 3 inch in diameter Dacron rope. The rope was control and tie-down lines ran to 27 anchors. After 60 mph winds occurred the curtain was forced to be removed after 28 hours of standing.
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Christo and Jeanne-Claude Valley Curtain, Rifle, Colorado, 1970-72 Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1972 Christo |
Suspended at 1,250 feet with a height curving from 356 feet at each end to 182 feet in the middle, the curtain hung in the Rifle gap above highway 325. Remaining clear of the slopes and valley bottom, a skirt had to be attached to the lower part of the curtain to visually complete the area between the thimbles and the ground.
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Valley Curtain, Rifle, Colorado, 1970-72 Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1972 Christo |
The curtain was secured with 11 cable clamps which connected at 4 main upper cables. 1,368 feet long and 61 tons heavy, the cables were anchored to 864 tons of concrete foundations.
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Christo and Jeanne-Claude Valley Curtain, Rifle, Colorado, 1970-72 Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1972 Christo |
For added insurance an inner cocoon was added and the bottom of the curtain was laced to a 3 inch in diameter Dacron rope. The rope was control and tie-down lines ran to 27 anchors. After 60 mph winds occurred the curtain was forced to be removed after 28 hours of standing.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Wrapped Coast
The Wrapped Coast project originally designed, drawn, and planned by Christo and Jeanne-Claude was completed on October 28, 1969 completely funded by the couple. Located in Little Bay, nine miles southeast of Sydney, Australia the environmental piece captivated viewers for ten weeks.
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Christo Packed Coast (Project for Australia near Sydney - Little Bay) Collage 1969 28 x 22" (71 x 56 cm) Photo: Harry Shunk © 1969 Christo |
Approximately 1.5 miles long, 150 to 800 feet wide, and 85 feet high, this masterpiece covered the northern cliffs of the South Pacific Ocean. Famous for their "wrappings" and environmental works, this was one of the first pieces the couple designed and completed.
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Christo and Jeanne-Claude Wrapped Coast, One Million Square Feet, Little Bay, Sydney, Australia, 1968-69 Photo: Harry Shunk © 1969 Christo |
The cliffs were wrapped using one million square feet of erosion-control fabric as well as 35 miles of polypropylene rope 0.6 inches in diameter. About 25,000 charges of fasteners, threaded studs, and clips were used by ramset guns to secure the fabric.
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Christo and Jeanne-Claude Wrapped Coast, One Million Square Feet, Little Bay, Sydney, Australia, 1968-69 Photo: Harry Shunk © 1969 Christo |
After the ten weeks of display, the fabric and all materials were dismantled and recycled and the area was returned to normal.
Christo's Wrapped Bottles, Cans, and Crates (1958-1960)
Christo's very early artwork began in 1958 when he moved to Paris. Gathering empty cans, bottles, and crates and covering them with resin-soaked canvas, tying them up and coating them with glue, varnish, sand, and a thin layer of dark-black or brown lacquer Christo created masterpieces with a limited amount of resources. After meeting and falling in love with Jeanne-Claude, Christo continued his work in their shared apartment in Paris.
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Christo Inventory 1958–60 Group of wrapped and not wrapped cans, oil barrels and crates Photo: René Bertholo © 1958-60 Christo |
Christo's artistic expressions began to reveal the relations and comparative analysis of various objects, surfaces, and materials. Unfortunately, many of Christo's early works have not survived. After being unable to pay their rent, the landlord of the couple’s home threw majority of the works away. Some black and white photos do exist of his crates but many of the pieces physically standing today are cans and bottles.
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Christo Wrapped Cans 1958–59 Group of ten cans, five wrapped diameter of each: 4 to 4 1/8" (10 to 10.5 cm) heigt of each: 4 3/4 to 5 1/8" (12 to 13 cm) one bottle: 10 3/4 x 3" (27 x 7.5 cm) Photo: Eeva Inkeri © 1958-59 Christo |
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Background Information
Although born on the same day, Christo Vladimirov Javacheff and Jeanne-Claude Marie Denat come from very different backgrounds. Christo born in Gabrovo, Bulgaria of an industrialist family grew up to study art at the Fine Arts Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria.
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Gabrovo, 1942 Christo (left) and his two brothers Stefan (center) and Anani (right) Photo: Vladimir Yavachev © 1942 Christo |
Jeanne-Claude grew up to study Latin and Philosophy at the University of Tunis. Eventually meeting in Paris in 1958 after Christo leaves Bulgaria for Prague and Czechoslovakia escaping communism. Soon married, Christo and Jeanne-Claude make their way overseas to the United States in 1964 with their four year old son. Beginning in 1961, they have continued creating masterpieces in both rural and urban landscapes.
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Taroudant, 1940 Jeanne-Claude Photo: Archive © 1940 Christo |
Taking years to plan with no financial help, Christo and Jeanne-Claude create beautiful masterpieces all over the world. Beginning in the 1960’s selling Christo’s preliminary drawings and lithographs the couple chooses to accept no financial help while creating there works with no influence a financial background may cause. Many paid workers are needed to physically create their works with the approval of various communities and governments and often takes years of planning. With all the work put into their art, the outcomes are truly magnificent.
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