search BFS site

WEEKS of JULY 26 & August 2, 2004
@BFS! archives

Large-scale Visit: Summer Arts Students Visit Studio of Christo and Jeanne-Claude

by Jeffrey Stanley

The summer arts kids got a special treat this month. Summer Arts Director Rachel Webber arranged for them to visit the SoHo studio of acclaimed environmental artists Christo & Jeanne-Claude, the husband-and-wife team most famous for their “Wrapped Reichstag” project, completed in 1995, in which they draped the Reichstag building in Berlin with fabric using a team of 90 professional climbers and 120 installation workers. After 14 days the exhibit was dismantled and all the materials recycled. The couple are currently working on their much-anticipated project, “The Gates,” in which 7,500 colored fabric panels will be positioned at intervals throughout Central Park’s 23 miles of walkways for 16 days next February.

The studio visit came about after Webber saw the current exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art documenting the Christos’ years of prep work for “The Gates.” “Knowing that they lived and worked in New York, I decided to try to arrange a studio visit,” says Webber. “After the success of the William Wegman trip last summer, I thought I would go for it. I wrote a letter to them describing the Summer Arts Program, told them how brilliant our students are, and I guess that sold them on the idea.”

Webber explained that even in their earlier years, Jeanne-Claude was an active cohort on Christo’s projects, but it wasn’t until the Reichstag project that they began placing both of their names on their work. “It was a planned decision—they felt they could achieve success in the art world easier using just Christo’s name on their art at first.” Since then, they have made it clear that Jeanne-Claude has always been Christo’s artistic partner.

“They were extremely welcoming to the children,” said Webber. The gaggle of 8- to 12-year-olds was enthralled by this unusual duo, and had many questions for them. The Christos appeared equally engaged by their young visitors. “They were not at all interested in the adults, pretty much ignoring us and giving complete attention to the kids,” Webber says.

Jeanne-Claude, a striking presence with bright red hair, encouraged the students to ask personal questions, and indeed they did. “Was it love at first sight?” one student asked. “It was love at third sight,” Jeanne-Claude replied.

Christo politely avoided such personal questions and focused primarily on discussing their art, but he was a warm and friendly presence. “You could tell that he and Jeanne-Claude were very much in love, and definitely had their roles well worked out,” observed Webber.

In preparation for the visit, Webber took the students to the exhibit at the Met, then to Central Park where they sketched their own studies, similar to what the Christos had done. Then, the kids used collage to illustrate their own ideas for a Central Park installation. Finally, they compiled a boxed portfolio of their designs and presented it to the Christos as a gift at the end of their visit. The Christos commented on each and every drawing in the box.

“The kids loved that,” said Webber.

back to @BFS!
@BFS! archives