|
International Art Treasures Web Magazine October 2005 |
Christo & Jeanne-ClaudeThe Würth Museum Collection
|
|
|
Christo and Jeanne-Claude are known as the wrapping artists. That simple turn of phrase does not do justice to the time, effort or art form encapsulated when their visions are realized. Christo developed Empaquetage or packaging a form of art expression. His early projects began with small items such as paint cans and grew into The Pont Neuf Wrapped, The Umbrellas, Wrapped Reichstag and the latest The Gates in New York City. |
|
This traveling exhibit includes over sixty works are on loan from the Würth Museum in Künzelsau, Germany making their North American debut.
Spanning five decades the collection includes the beginning of empaquetage expressionism movement with early wrapped works dating from the 1950s and continues to the massive projects for which Christo and Jeanne-Claude are known. |
|
Title: The Umbrellas, Japan-USA 1984-1991, 1991
Artists: Christo & Jeanne-Claude (American b. 1932)
Medium: Photograph
Dimensions: 28 x 39 2/4 x 1 3/8 inches
© Christo 1991
Image Courtesy: The Portland Museum of Art
The exhibit contains preparatory sketches, collages, maps. topography and fabric used in projects and ends with photographs of the large-scale completed public projects. It is from the sale of the preparatory works that fund the Projects. Government money is not accepted.
Title: The Pont Neuf Wrapped, Project for Paris, 1980
Artist: Christo (American b. 1932)
Medium: Collage (In Two Parts)
Dimensions: 22 1/16 x 28 1/8 inches, 11 1/4 x 28 1/8 inches.
© Christo 1980
Image Courtesy: The Portland Museum of Art
|
|
Christo and Jeanne-Claude will speak at the Portland Museum of Art's annual Bernard A. Osher Lecture on November 9, 2005 beginning at 6:30 pm |
Title: The Gates, Project for Central Park, New York, 1992
Artist: Christo (American b. 1932)
Medium: Collage
Dimensions: 11 x 8 1/2 inches
© Christo 2000
Image Courtesy: The Portland Museum of Art
What's next for the innovative artists? Christo and Jeanne-Claude are working on Over the River Project for the Arkansas River in Colorado. Currently Over the River is still at the permit gathering and environmental assessment stage with the earliest completion dates being the summer of 2008. The target is two consecutive weeks between mid-July and mid-August when the project is realized. Fabric panels will be suspended above the river, high enough not in any way to interfere, following the river's configuration. The series of panels will be interrupted for natural reasons and to allow light to shine through.
Title: Wrapped Reichstag, Project for Berlin, Scale Model 1993, 1993
Artist: Christo (American b. 1932)
Medium: Fabric, Twine, Wood, Plastic and Paint
Dimensions: 45 1/2 x 103 1/8 x 201 5/6 inches
Photographer: Wolfgang Volz
© Christo 1993
Image Courtesy: The Portland Museum of Art
|
Over the River like the preceding Christo and Jeanne-Claude projects will enthrall, enlighten and bring an awareness to the area and to the art form. |
|
Christo & Jeanne-Claude: The Würth Museum Collection
Portland Museum of Art:
November 3 - December 31, 2005
Austin Museum of Art:
January 28 - April 30, 2006
Fresno Metropolitan Museum:
June 8 - August 20, 2006