Christo, Fabric Artist, To Suspend Miles Of Fabric Panels Over Parts Of Arkansas River, Pending Final Approval

SALIDA, Colo. -- The Colorado State Parks Board approved an agreement Friday for the artist Christo to pay $550,000 to state parks to carry out his Over the River project, which would suspend 5.9 miles worth of fabric panels over parts of the Arkansas River.

However, the agreement is moot if the Bureau of Land Management doesn't approve a federal permit for the project. The BLM hasn't made its decision yet.

Christo's project would use heavy equipment to help erect a system of cables and anchors to hang the fabric along U.S. 50.

The agreement approved by the parks board applies only to lands it manages. It says Christo's team would pay $320,000 to cover State Parks' costs related to Christo carrying out his project, plus $230,000 in recreation impact fees.

Over the River, which Christo envisioned with his late wife, Jeanne-Claude, has drawn support from art lovers but frustration from some wildlife advocates and river businesses. Opponents say hordes of tourists checking out the project and the work needed to erect it could stress wildlife, choke traffic and disrupt hunting, rafting and angling business.

In May, Colorado wildlife commissioners voted 9-0 in favor of sending a letter to the BLM opposing the project and urging federal officials to adopt measures to ease potential effects on bighorn sheep if they do issue a permit to Christo.

Comments

[whaat]

05:21 PM on 06/27/2011

They tried to do this on the river between santa fe and taos, but it did not fly, due to environmental problems and the same kind of protests. The New York Gates project was wonderful, even after all the %&&^$##, but there it did not cause environmental damage.

The environmental damage is the problem, the other problem is the regular (**&^%%% about artists we have learned to expect. We should separate the two subjects and concentrate on the project itself

[mike strawn]

06:50 PM on 06/28/2011

Actually whaat, there has never been a previous Christo proposal to suspend fabric over a river in New Mexico or anyplace else. For over 10 years, Christo and his late wife Jeanne-Claude have worked on the Arkansas River project after the couple chose this particular stretch of river out of scores of possibilities around the world.

Also it's important to remember that there is a state highway on one side of the river and a rail line on the other--meaning that we are hardly talking about pristine wilderness.

[heboprotagonist]

09:46 PM on 06/29/2011

What you call "hardly pristine wilderness" is perfectly fine the way it is. Beautiful in its' history of the place (the railroad) and a great spot to paddle the river. I don't know why covering it up with fabric is art, but that's subjective. Mostly it's just going to be a nuisance. The paddlers have no use for high art, in fact we go there to escape such pretentiousness. And if you've driven the highway in question you know that it can hardly handle the traffic is serves daily in the summer, much less an influx of artsy types in unfamiliar rental cars on unfamiliar roads all trying to take pictures of something so out of place.

[N133]

01:05 PM on 06/27/2011

The cloth isn't actually going to cover the river, it is going to be suspended over it so that you can raft underneath it. Environmental impact will definitely arise from the concrete necessary to place the cables, and of course the fuel emissions of visitors, but the installation is TEMPORARY. It can't bring more fuel emissions than even part of a ski-season, and there have been environmental impact studies ongoing for YEARS to ensure that there will not be permanent harm to the eco-systems.

If appreciating contemporary art is kool-aid, yes, I've been drinking it, but I find it preferable to high-dudgeon ignorance.

[5ilver]

10:04 PM on 06/27/2011

Countless aquatic life will be damaged by the shade these panels will cast over the river where there is normally sun. This impacts insect hatches and underwater algae growth. That in turn impacts fish and any other species that rely on the insects and algae for survival. That is the other environmental impact. The studies, by the way, do say that there will be permanent harm. Read up on it. The only reason it is still going to be passed in spite of that comes down to simply a money factor.

I hope he puts it up, and a forest fire burns it down or a canyon wind rips it to shreds. Then the "artist" will see what nature is really about - not the lame eye sore he has envisioned for nature.

[vlad vladych]

03:31 PM on 06/28/2011

Appreciating contemporary art doesn't mean liking everything done in its name. Christo's projects are a baleful manifestation of contemporary art sensibilities.

[heboprotagonist]

11:12 AM on 06/27/2011

NOT and artist. Christo is an ego driven capitalist.

[N133]

12:58 PM on 06/27/2011

Christo and Jeanne-Claude's work critiques capitalism. Read a book.

[5ilver]

10:06 PM on 06/27/2011

Then why do they require the investment of capitalist dollars to do make their "art"? Plus, the art makes them money too doesn't it ? Seems like a pretty capitalistic endeavor to me. If their art truly critiques capitalism, then they are enormous hypocrites if they keep one single dime from the profits of the art.

By the way, please tell me how this project on the Arkansas "critiques capitalism"?

[Uosdwis]

09:56 AM on 06/27/2011

"Chirsto??" Are there no journalistic or editorial standards anymore?

[5ilver]

10:07 PM on 06/27/2011

Not on huffpo. This is not a real news site, it is a left wing blog - nothing more.

[Seedomang]

12:26 AM on 06/27/2011

He should make miles of blankets and shirts for the poor. Now thats a statement!

[deans2cents]

10:30 AM on 06/27/2011

I agree! 5 iles of fabric is enough material for all the gopper women to get one burkah each!

[5ilver]

10:08 PM on 06/27/2011

How would that put money in his pocket though.

[bradkevans]

12:08 AM on 06/27/2011

Ironically the imbeciles posting here don't complain when they build roads and other man-made structures in ecologically sensitive areas so they can go out and damage the landscape. How short sighted are ye? this will bring millions into the coffers of state and local businesses, bring world-wide attention to Colorado, and provide the financially strapped entities that will receive the funds from Christo to be better stewards of the lands for which they watch over. Having witnessed multiple Christo projects in person, these are something extraordinary, and will be nothing but GREAT for the state of Colorado.

[5ilver]

11:54 AM on 06/27/2011

Been drinking the Christo kool-aid I see.

Other projects may cause damage to ecologically sensitive areas, but it is for the greater good of society (i.e roads etc...). Draping cloth over a river has not such benefit, and is just a waste of time and money. It is only an ego thing for the artist, who by the way won't even be doing any of the actual hands on work - what a joke.

This will not be great for Colorado.

[TFlint]

11:02 PM on 06/26/2011

OkpK everybody, time to hate art, just because you are too dense to appreciate it!

[vlad vladych]

01:22 AM on 06/27/2011

This isn't art.

[5ilver]

11:56 AM on 06/27/2011

I appreciate art. I don't appreciate environmental damage just because someone thinks it is art. If someone wanted to burn down Rocky Mountain National Park - in the name of art - would you support that just because you appreciate art. Where do you draw the line?

[N133]

01:00 PM on 06/27/2011

What is the environmental damage?

[pecosdog]

10:14 PM on 06/26/2011

This is the stupidest idea ever to be put in place on a popular rafting river. There will be deaths cause by this, make no mistake about it and it will not be the first deaths caused by crito's so called "art". Cables +river+recreationists =death every time. I have kayaked this stretch of river dozens of times. It will be a shame to let this charlatan ruin it.

[bradkevans]

12:11 AM on 06/27/2011

pecos dog, it's a temporary installation. If you bothered to investigate a little deeper, you'd have known this, so your blatherings about it ruining this stretch of river is a chicken little story at best. Oh wait, my bet is you drove your stinking car to the head waters from which you entered the river, and that is far more ruinuous to the environment than a few miles of fabric.

[5ilver]

11:57 AM on 06/27/2011

How about all the damage that will be caused where the structure gets anchored to the ground. That's permanent. What about the impact to the fishery and aquatic species that will die off in that part of the river. That permanent. Get it now.

[DenverBigDaddy]

07:17 PM on 06/26/2011

Just when I think I have heard everything......let's cover the river in fabric. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot???

[see-ellen2001]

04:39 PM on 06/26/2011

When I saw that "Chirsto" was doing this project I wondered if the artist was a cheap knock-off, like Rolax watches and Louis V. Tan bags.

[Marturia]

12:39 PM on 06/26/2011

If the BLM had any sense, they'd vote against this project. Not only would it tear up the mountainsides along the river, it will interfere with wildlife that thrive in that area. We've sat along the Arkansas next to HWY 50 and watched geese and their goslings feed in the river, seen bighorn sheep along the waterways and photographed the beauty of the area. Why would they allow someone to partially destroy a piece of paradise? Outrageous!
Also, the general public is told not to interfere with nature on BLM land and national and state parks. We have to adhere to rigid regulations here in Colorado and there are fines for breaking them. If the BLM allows Christo to bring in his 'art', they will be undermining their own policies. The same goes for the state park system. Shame on them.

[shthar]

02:05 PM on 06/25/2011

Sheesh! Talk about a one trick pony.

He is a real artist tho. You can tell, cuz he gets someone to put up the money, someone else to do the work, and then puts his name on it.

[TFlint]

11:04 PM on 06/26/2011

He pays his own money, takes NO contributions, accepts NO grants. When you don't know the facts, don't spread lies!

[bradkevans]

12:12 AM on 06/27/2011

amen brother!

[dengal]

10:18 AM on 06/27/2011

he gets his money from many donors, not really "his money", he is better than any politician, Ive seen him at work. He does intend take contributions, lots of them

I personally think he found a way to get rich and just keeps doing the same thing over and over. Id rather see him branch out and do something new and exciting. He certainly has the ability.