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.

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.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude
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.

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.