Written by:
Demetria Daniels

P: 212-332-9991

718-885-6576 A chatty, informative column of New York events featuring places, people and personalities and celebrities. demetriadaniels@gmail.com

 
THE GATES of CENTRAL PARK have arrived. Artists CHRISTO and JEANNE CLAUDE have donated their monies for the art project that has opened in Central Park.
It has turned into an art "happening". Thousands attended the unfurling of the saffron-colored gates which are 16' feet hight , with a 7 foot-pleated curtain and which are 7,500 strong throughout the pathways of the park. Brilliant in the sunshine they wave in the wind turning from orange to tangerine . Mayor Bloomberg pulled the string for the first gate. He said at the press conference that "now is the right time for this project". Since 1979, the artists have tried to create the gates, being disappointed several times with rejections from the Parks Commissioners. Gordon Davis, a past commissioner said at the time he was commissioner, the time was not right. This is a project of "joy and beauty" as described in the book of The Gates.The color saffron is also the color worn by the Dalai Lama, who spoke in the park one year ago. This gives them a spiritual quality.

The reaction of New Yorkers was one of celebration and excitement. Everyone had at least one camera each. Photos - ops were from every path, every hill.
All proceeds of the sale of the books and souveniers which include post cards, magnets, T-shirts, seartshirts, mugs, will benefit the Central Park Conservancy. Doug Blonsky, President of the Conservancy said "we are thrilled to have The Gates here".

Other projects include The Umbrellas, blue ones in Japan and yellow in California, openned at the same time and the wrapping of the Reichstag and a couple of islands.

I had wondered about these conceptual artists and when I saw a documentary on the Umbrellas, I realized that what happens is a raising of the consciousness, that makes people "wonder".

We need that. Although only up till February 27, we will have them in our memory after that. Also the very famous filmaker, ALBERT MAYSLES who filmed TRUMAN CAPOTE, MARLON BRANDO is doing a documentary on
The Gates, so they will be in our memory for a long time to come.
posted by Demetria at 1:09 PM