the gates to hell
 

Someone thought it would be "neat" to line the sidewalks in Central Park with orange curtains hanging from metal arches. When I arrived at the park today, I saw what I had expected: droves of tourists and Manhattanites gandering at these things as if God himself was playing a game of dominos. <B>I don't see what the big fucking deal is.</B> They're boring. I thought each would be decorated differently, or at least bear a different colored curtain, but to that regard, the artists failed, IMO.

Rather, the beauty lies in the sheer number of "gates" surrounding the park, and, when viewed from certain areas, they branch in all directions like the roots of a tree. Enjoy!

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My favorite shot, now my desktop background.<BR>
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I guess there were going to build more?<BR>
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The Intrepid carrier museum is badass, btw. They moved the Blackbird to the very edge of the deck, right above the West Side Highway.

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Well, they do add color to a drab winter landscape.....one color.
Is this a Cristo thing? Who paid for it?
I imagine with all the digital and phone cameras out there, this is already the best documented "work of art" in history. :biggrin:

Sr-71 = woody grunt grunt

Yeah. I think he paid for it, too.

Doesn't take much to rally the Upper West Siders these days.

They came. They saw. They trembled and wept at the inexpressable beauty then looked around to see who else was looking and all they saw were other people looking around to see who was looking. And they agreed: Beautiful!

Nice orange color. I'm sorry, did I say orange? I meant {clenches teeth} Saaaaaaafron.

Saffron? That ain't the color of the saffron I eat and I eat the real deal. :)
Must be BN's camera.

That's supposed to be saffron? It looks more like ... rust to me.

My camera doesn't do well with bright colors (Sony P8). The sun was out when I left my apartment (on bike), but it got overcast when I arrived at the park. Bleh.

So, two friends were visiting from Atlanta, and after brunch, what did they want to do? Of course, go see the gates in Central Park. I had already shown them my photos and assured them there wasn't much else to see, but I was overruled 3-1. I spent my Sunday in urban guerrilla combat. :(

:eek: butbut... the amount of steel used for those gates is two thirds of what was used for Eiffel tower!!! (fact)


Tsk. No appreciation for art.

;)

This was just on Sixty Minutes.

Apparently Cristo doesn't accept money for any of his installations ... but finances them by selling the concept drawings and plans.

The steel won't be wasted, they'll be distributed as gallows..........
and saffron shrouds. :biggrin:

I'm usually a fan of these types of artistic ventures, but this one does nothing for me. Probably because of the color--I hate orange, particularly this shade of orange. But I guess if you tune out the specifics and focus on the "big picture" it has a pretty interesting visual effect.

And here I was expecting something tasteful in wrought iron, with an Italian motto over the gates.

Our Loose Park here in KC (it would be Central Park if KC was a lot bigger) got the Christo treatment back in the 70's.

I've always been a bit neutral on his work, although I must say that certain things have been quite striking.

I don't really like it. Whether it's cloudy, dreary, and without color, I see trees as complex and wonderful things themselves. I think it's horrible that the only reason why 75% of those people that you see flocked there are there for the man-made boring drapes. I've been to the park numerous times, about as many times as I can fit before i need to leave. I think these drapes are just taking away from the natural beauty of the park.

I saw 'Cristo' and his wife on good Morning America. His wife was doing all the talking but he was lipsinking every word as it came out of her mouth. It was THE most bizzar thing. (not to mention her hair is also the color of 'safron')

It was noted on 60 Minutes that he starts sentences, and she finishes them.