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<p align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:24.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>�The Gates�</span></b></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Views on the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Central Park Project</span></b></p>
<p>OK, OK...I was too negative at first.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>I now concede that the very number and intensity of the responses to my CULTURE
ALERT�and to the project itself�resoundingly demonstrate that �The Gates� was
successful on many levels.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>My current
feeling is that it has been an <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>extremely</i>
successful �happening.� And, <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>assuming</i>
I'm proven wrong about it taking months before it is finally completely out of
the park, I am willing to say I was wrong not to understand the desirability of
having it happen. Nevertheless, I stand by my judgment that it
is not good artistically:<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>the objects
themselves are dreadful, and the layout is somewhere between mediocre and
ridiculously without aesthetic judgment; and I think there are any number of
people who could have done it infinitely better. (Of course, they
wouldn't have done it in the first place, so all that is moot.)</p>
<p>I was wrong about something else, as well:<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>I could not believe that they would be taken out of the park in a timely
fashion�and, having walked through a good bit of the park this afternoon (13
March Sunday), I have to admit that they are gone!<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>(There are still dumpsters full of the
bases�but I shall not quibble about this, as I was convinced the bases would be
on the ground for weeks.)<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>So, on this
count, my apologies, and my admiration to Christo and Jeanne-Claude�s
efficiency and ability to keep their promise.</p>
<p>Here, in more organized form, is my critique and some of the many responses:</p>
<p><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>My original CULTURE ALERT:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>I need to admit from the outset
that I was prejudiced against Christo's project for Central Park. I am an
Olmsted fanatic, and I consider Central Park to be my favorite architectural
work in New York City. The idea of putting anything in it not part of the
original conception is something I resist:<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>first, because I want to respect the perfection of the design and conception
of this astounding work of art; and, second, for fear that permitting any
encroachment is a very slippery slope that potentially endangers one of what I
consider to be one of the great wonders of the world.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Putting this prejudice aside�to the
extent I am able, I have attempted to evaluate the success of the project
itself. What follows is my assessment from that perspective.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>First, what I consider to its main
success: The Gates has drawn people to the park--and in droves. One
of Olmsted's goals in planning the park was to have it be a place where people
of all sorts would come together and have an experience different from the
general rhythms of city existence. And for anyone who has wandered in
Central Park, his success in this goal has always been obvious: one
always finds the park filled with people from every ethnic, racial, and
socio-economic group enjoying various aspects of what the park provides.
In a way that is more successful than any other park I know, Central Park has
always functioned as a magnet for the City's residents; it is a destination
that people travel to--and NYC has the public transportation which enables them
to do so. It was completely clear this weekend that The Gates was
functioning as an event that was accomplishing a similar goal: huge
numbers people were drawn to the park--many of whom were clearly not the
sort one usually finds there. (On a typical day, the park is full of
tourists--many of them from other countries. Many of these new visitors
are clearly from out of town, but more who drove rather than flew to get here.)</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>A second plus is that The Gates has
people looking and talking and trying to understand their experience.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Having said all this, it is my
strong opinion that the project is terrible in any number of important ways.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>To begin with, the individual
elements of the project are <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>horrid</i>.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>Each �gate� is a badly proportioned
rectangular structure with a large piece of rip-stop cloth hanging from the
crossbar at the top.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The entire
structure is clunky, the bases are awkward, and the orange color is garish�and
all too reminiscent of construction site orange.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>In the midst of the organic forms of Central
Park, each gate stands as an awkwardly proportioned, totally artificial,
geometric eyesore.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Moreover, each gate straddles some
stretch of park pathway, effectively narrowing the room for those walking on
the paths.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>This constriction, combined
with the inflated number of visitors, makes walking in the areas of the project
difficult and jostling.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>One of the
purposes of the park was to provide an expansive, open, bucolic experience that
would be a natural counterpoint to the urban intensity and constrictions of
city life.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>Instead, moving through the
gates actually give a sense of containment and artificiality.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Even given the ugliness and garish artificiality
of the individual gates, my hope was that their repetition along some of the
pathways of the park potentially might highlight some of the magnificent
contours of Olmsted�s design.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>Alas, the
project fails on this measure as well.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>Instead of visually composing in a manner that would accentuate the
underlying structure of Olmsted�s creation, the gates are arranged in a way
that just confuses the experience of it.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>In the first place, the lines of gates were laid out without any real
regard to the fact that from ground level one ends up seeing a meaningless
mishmash of different individual elements from various contour lines all at the
same time.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>One sees different<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>layers superimposed upon each other, instead
of seeing clearly defined groupings.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>(There are small areas of exception to this:<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>places where only one line of gates is
coherently visible at a time�but this is very much the exception rather than
the rule.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>And even more rare are those
small segments that actually reveal the beauty of the Olmsted contour they
follow)</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>One of the most distinctive
features of the genius of Olmsted�s design was the creations of discrete
mini-environments within the park.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>An
open lawn can be immediately adjacent to tree-lined promenade, and that to a
narrow glen, and that to a hilly ramble�and each distinctive environment
remains totally separate from and invisible to its neighboring environments,
except where, in a measured and controlled way, Olmsted decided to provide a
sight line from one into another.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>One of
the jarring problems of The Gates is that the height of the gates themselves
and the poor choices that went into their placement result in one being made
aware of multiple adjacent�and even distant�environments that one was
specifically meant <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>not</i> to be aware
of.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>My last hope for some redeeming
artistic merit to the project was that it might compose well seen from
above.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>I am afraid that I must report
that, after having viewed it from high up in a building on Fifth Avenue and
even higher up (25<sup>th</sup> floor) of a building on Central Park West, it
fails on this measure as well.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>What
little coherent structure there is to the design is a more apparent viewed from
above�but the sad truth is that it simply is not that good and not that
coherent.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The plan is just not that well
thought out.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The lines that have been
created are too numerous, too random, and, in many cases, not created or
continued assertively enough.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>There are
lines that simply don�t belong being there; and there are others that should be
there that are not.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>There are any number of artists who
would have been able to create more beautiful or appropriate objects with which
to populate such a project.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>And, even
assuming the project�s goal was to utilize particularly ugly elements,
repeatedly laid out in a way meant jarringly to create a design, there are some
masters who would have been able to have the sense of underlying structure of
Olmsted�s masterpiece and have had the ability to understand and control the
use of line and point of view enough to make art of this project. </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Christo and his wife Jeanne-Cluade
simply are not artists enough to pull this off.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span>They have created a happening, to be sure; but they have not created
art.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>We are promised, at least, that this
installation is only for sixteen days�and in this, at least, there might be
some solace.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>But I do not believe
it!<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>In the first place, it is pure
hogwash that the installation went up in five days.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>The ugly and intrusive bases have been being
positioned for <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>weeks</i>.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>What is more, and army of volunteers was
involve in setting up The Gates.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>I
completely do not believe that they will be taken down with the same vigor or
enthusiasm.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>And God knows how long it
will be until Central Park has been freed from the bases for each gate.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>I am predicting we will be bothered by
elements of this intrusion on our park for many, many months to come.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>And let us not forget:<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>it is <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>our</i>
park.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>I do not remember us being asked
for our consent to this project.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Henry Stern�s piece on the project:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p>A most interesting response to the Christo and Jeanne-Claude project
written by former long-time NYC Commissioner of Parks, Henry Stern. (My
favorite line: <span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica'>"The
remarkable aspect of Christo's work is not its striking beauty, although it is
probably as attractive and tasteful as orange vinyl bars with hanging shower
curtains can ever be. With daubs of white at their centers, the curtains could
well be creamsicles.") </span><span style='mso-bidi-font-family:
Helvetica'>Henry sent it out under the title, �Color Me Orange�; I forwarded it
under the Subject, ��7000 Orange Schmatas.�<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica'>Link
to get �Color Me Orange�:<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span><a
href="http://www.nycivic.org/articles/050215.html">www.nycivic.org/articles/050215.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica'>Link
to responses that Henry received to his piece:<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�
</span><a href="http://www.nycivic.org/articles/050215response.html">www.nycivic.org/articles/050215response.html</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:
Helvetica'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica'>Christo and
Jeanne-Claude�s own site on The Gates</span></u><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:
Helvetica'>Link:<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span></span><a
href="http://www.christojeanneclaude.net/tg.html">www.christojeanneclaude.net/tg.html</a></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica'>The first set
of responses I received</span></u><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>No CULTURE ALERT before has <em>ever</em> resulted in the
outpouring (inpouring?) of responses I have gotten to my piece on "The
Gates." I have received many, many times the numbers of
emails I have receiver about any previous one--and not a few phone
calls! I include here a sampling:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>My favorite exchange in reaction to
my piece:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Respondent: Bah
humbug!</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Dead Parrot: Christo a
humbug, uncle?</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Most thought-provoking
"Gotcha":</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Congratulations! You're thoughtful
criticism is now part of the Christo project.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Most provoking thought
"Gotcha":</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Hey--you could be a really good
Republican. Give it a try.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>(It actually was noted by <em>several</em>
respondents that, on the issue of the preservation of Central Park, I certainly
seem to be quite a conservative)</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Most profound thought:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>The fact that people enjoy them
shows how much of a need for public engagement exists in this town</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Most convincing positive
view of the project:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>I love Christo's "benevolent
colonizations" of familiar spaces, changing our view of them and our
experience of them, temporarily. What fun. In my view he is a genius.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Most positive put down of
the project:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Let's welcome the raised
level of citizen camaraderie that this banal project has aroused</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Most punitive pundit's punishment:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>I, for one, am in favor of
shortening crisco's lard art career, at least limiting his low-price spread on
the crust of mother earth.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Most promising humorous reply:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Ok, Ok...I'll have them down by
tomorrow afternoon!</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Best,</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Christo</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Most common criticism:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>The gates themselves are poorly
proportioned</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Some negative reactions:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>The fist things I thought
when I saw them were: communist china, and the obsession with mass production
and emphasis of quantity over quality that is our culture today (at least in
America). </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>I HATE the damn helicopters he
hired for security! The noise is worse than how ugly the thing is.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>It represents an unlawful
taking. How would it be if I decided to place a pile of horse shit in
Bloomberg's living room, called it an installation, and charged admission?</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Opera in the park is a much better
experience in every way. That we have every year, and yet I don't see the
press and public raising such hoopla about it.....</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>It is far from being a work of
art. It is a commercial adventure. I hate it. It sucks.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Most common positive comment:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>It brings people to the park</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Some Positive reactions:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>The best part is when the sun
shines through the fabric</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>I like the pleats</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>It has people looking and
talking</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>I'll bet it will look great in
against snow</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Some fun thoughts:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>They were pleated
curtains, for god's sake!</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Maybe they can sell them as shower
curtains at Target?</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Think of all the cheap sport-sacs
the Hare Krishnas will be getting out of the leftovers!</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Best relationship between two
unrelated responses:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Yep. The emperor has no
clothes, and nobody wants to hear that. Who wants to see a naked
George Bush or -- shudder -- Ariel Sharon?</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>A Saffron Haiku</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Gates, Schmates in the Park</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Are they the emperor's clothes</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Or shower curtains</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>The most interesting juxtaposition
of two people's jarringly different takes on the same dynamic:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>The entire enterprise is the work
-- the 25 years of negotiations, the passions that have gone into that, the
debate about the park and its inviolability.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Their ability to use charisma,
persistence, and fanaticism to create a massive piece of crap that
sacrifices the free movement of innocent people for the benefit of a misguided
mass dynamic reminds me of various 20th century political movements.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Best story evoked by the
CULTURE ALERT:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>The Christo piece reminds me when
there was a show at the Whitney--a recreation of that big fabric screen in the
desert. The whole top floor naked except for one piece of cloth strung down the
middle. I looked, then left to find a big searchlight truck parked across the
street from the museum for the opening. Being mischievous I masqueraded as a
museum official and had the guy point the spot in the window. The truck
light guy and I futzed with the light till I had it pointing straight in the
upper window, probably took us twenty minutes to get it right. <br>
<br>
Of course the NY Times review spoke of the brilliance of the lighting bringing
the out side in and the inter play of the light and shadows, etc.,
etc.--two whole paragraphs of the review. I was officially aggrandized as a
lighting genius. Once again I became a famous artist. I bet they didn't
know that some Georgia hick did that as a joke. In the end, I decided that in
New York, it isn't the work that is important as much as the publicity it
gains.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>One of three, eerily similar,
Vietnam associations:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>I had very odd personal
associations to the Vietnam War: Agent Orange, and the color of the robes
of self-immolating Buddhist priests protesting American involvement.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Best (and only) response to relate
the piece to the Wallace Stevens poem, an excerpt from which was quoted at the
bottom of the CULTURE ALERT:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>You might try on a sombrero, per
Stevens quote below.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>The lines, from "Six
Significant Landscapes," were:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'>Rationalists, wearing square hats,<br>
Think, in square rooms,<br>
Looking at the floor,<br>
Looking at the ceiling.<br>
They confine themselves<br>
To right-angled triangles.<br>
If they tried rhomboids,<br>
Cones, waving lines, ellipses-<br>
As, for example, the ellipse of the half-moon-<br>
Rationalists would wear sombreros.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:
Helvetica'>Another (better?) version: �The Somerville Gates�</span></u><u><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Unfortunately, the creator of this
project, Hargo, has treated the time-limited nature of his project more
seriously than I believe Christo and Jeanne-Claude will theirs; and he had
taken down this wonderful, cat-filled online version, posted at <a
href="http://www.not-rocket-science.com/about_gates.htm">http://www.not-rocket-science.com/about_gates.htm</a>
.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span>Here are a few of the images:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:172.5pt;
height:230.25pt'>
<v:imagedata src="gates_files/image007.jpg" o:title="FoodGates"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img border=0 width=230 height=307
src="gates_files/image009.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1025"><![endif]><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>��� </span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1026"
type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:171.75pt;height:228.75pt'>
<v:imagedata src="gates_files/image008.jpg" o:title="DoorGates"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img border=0 width=229 height=305
src="gates_files/image010.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1026"><![endif]><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>����</span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1027"
type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:281.25pt;height:211.5pt'>
<v:imagedata src="gates_files/image006.jpg" o:title="SOmerville"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img border=0 width=375 height=282
src="gates_files/image011.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1027"><![endif]></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>And here is the original project
description and comparison to �The Gate� project:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div align=center>
<table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in;
mso-cellspacing:1.5pt;margin-left:.5in;mso-padding-alt:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt'>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes;height:251.25pt'>
<td width=596 colspan=3 style='width:447.0pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:251.25pt'>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-family:Tahoma;
letter-spacing:.75pt'>The Somerville Gates</span></b></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;
font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>Often Hargo's "The Somerville
Gates" has been compared with Christo's "The Gates", Central
Park, New York City. These comparisons have been unfair; sometimes the media
has exaggerated -- even lied -- about the similarities. Differences abound,
and some of the most overlooked are listed below. </span> </p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;
font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>The gates are not for sale. Neither
is the cat.<br>
And don't let anybody sell you tickets to these gates: it is free!<br>
[Signed photos, however, are available directly from the artist in limited
editions.] </span> </p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;
font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'><a
href="http://www.not-rocket-science.com/door_gates.htm">Images</a></span></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;
font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'><a
href="http://www.not-rocket-science.com/gates.htm">Home</a></span></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;
font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'><a
href="mailto:[email protected]">email Hargo</a></span></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;
font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>Thank you for visiting The
Somerville Gates.<br>
- Hargo.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:1;height:21.0pt'>
<td width=250 valign=top style='width:187.55pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:21.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td width=170 style='width:127.75pt;background:gray;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:21.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>Christo's<br>
"The Gates"</span></p>
</td>
<td width=172 style='width:128.7pt;background:gray;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:21.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>Hargo's<br>
"The Somerville Gates"</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:2;height:27.0pt'>
<td width=250 style='width:187.55pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;
letter-spacing:.75pt'>Location</span></b></p>
</td>
<td width=170 style='width:127.75pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>Central Park,<br>
New York, NY, USA</span></p>
</td>
<td width=172 style='width:128.7pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>Village
Street,<br>
Somerville, MA, USA</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:3;height:27.0pt'>
<td width=250 style='width:187.55pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;
letter-spacing:.75pt'>Does the artist accept donations?</span></b></p>
</td>
<td width=170 style='width:127.75pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>No</span></p>
</td>
<td width=172 style='width:128.7pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>Yes</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:4;height:27.0pt'>
<td width=250 style='width:187.55pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;
letter-spacing:.75pt'>Years it took to make</span></b></p>
</td>
<td width=170 style='width:127.75pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma'>26</span></p>
</td>
<td width=172 style='width:128.7pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma'>0.002</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:5;height:27.0pt'>
<td width=250 style='width:187.55pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;
letter-spacing:.75pt'>Estimated visitors (people)</span></b></p>
</td>
<td width=170 style='width:127.75pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>4 million</span></p>
</td>
<td width=172 style='width:128.7pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>4</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:6;height:27.0pt'>
<td width=250 style='width:187.55pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;
letter-spacing:.75pt'>Estimated visitors (cats)</span></b></p>
</td>
<td width=170 style='width:127.75pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>none</span></p>
</td>
<td width=172 style='width:128.7pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>1</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:7;height:27.75pt'>
<td width=250 style='width:187.55pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;
letter-spacing:.75pt'>Use of recyclable materials</span></b></p>
</td>
<td width=170 style='width:127.75pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>yes</span></p>
</td>
<td width=172 style='width:128.7pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>yes</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:8;height:27.75pt'>
<td width=250 style='width:187.55pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;
letter-spacing:.75pt'>Number of workers involved in the installation</span></b></p>
</td>
<td width=170 style='width:127.75pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>600</span></p>
</td>
<td width=172 style='width:128.7pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>2</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:9;height:27.75pt'>
<td width=250 style='width:187.55pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;
letter-spacing:.75pt'>Viewing period</span></b></p>
</td>
<td width=170 style='width:127.75pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>16 days</span></p>
</td>
<td width=172 style='width:128.7pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>until the
cleaning lady comes</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:10;height:27.75pt'>
<td width=250 style='width:187.55pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;
letter-spacing:.75pt'>Tons of steel used (in US tons)</span></b></p>
</td>
<td width=170 style='width:127.75pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>5,290</span></p>
</td>
<td width=172 style='width:128.7pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>0</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:11;height:27.75pt'>
<td width=250 style='width:187.55pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;
letter-spacing:.75pt'>Wood glue used (in ounces)</span></b></p>
</td>
<td width=170 style='width:127.75pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>0 (est.)</span></p>
</td>
<td width=172 style='width:128.7pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>4</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:12;height:27.75pt'>
<td width=250 style='width:187.55pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;
letter-spacing:.75pt'>Installation area</span></b></p>
</td>
<td width=170 style='width:127.75pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>843 acres</span></p>
</td>
<td width=172 style='width:128.7pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:27.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>2400 sq ft</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:13;height:15.75pt'>
<td width=250 style='width:187.55pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:15.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td width=170 style='width:127.75pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:15.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td width=172 style='width:128.7pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:15.75pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:14;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes;height:25.5pt'>
<td width=596 colspan=3 style='width:447.0pt;padding:3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;
height:25.5pt'>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>� </span><span style='font-size:
7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>Hargo 2005</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Hargo�s final words on his project:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;
letter-spacing:.75pt'>The cleaning lady has come.</span></p>
<p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Tahoma;
letter-spacing:.75pt'>The response has been great, and I thank you. It
certainly suggests -- among other things, and to paraphrase a famous Somerville
neighbor -- just as there are too few women in science, there are evidently too
few cats in contemporary art.</span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�</span><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica'>The next set of responses I received</span></u><u><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'>:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The responses about "The Gates" continue to pour
in! I have to admit that, while I am still convinced the project is a
failure from an artistic point of view, it is clearly a huge success as a
"happening." Here are samples from the recent ones:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'> My next favorite exchange in
reaction to my piece:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Respondent: I
feel like an Israelite amongst the Philistines.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Dead Parrot: Does that
mean you are planning to try and build settlements in the park?</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>(yes, yes...for you experts on the
history of the <em>ancient</em> Neareast...I know the analogy is faulty)</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Most positive new observation (by
many people):</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>It looks much better with snow on
the ground!</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'>-the orange seems deeper and
appears to be a better color</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'>-The contrast improves things</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'>-The details of the park's beauty
were muted by the snow, and made it less offensive that the project was
ignoring them</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>My favorite suggestion for a better
shade of orange:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>The orange of that Veuve Cliquot
uses for its Ponsardin, non-vintage champagne</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>An interesting observations about
the observers:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>One curious fact: most of
the people taking photos get one of those vistas where you get a row of
the gates curving up or down a hill, and then wait for the people to disappear</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Another alterative project:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><a
href="http://www.smilinggoat.com/Crackers1.html">http://www.smilinggoat.com/Crackers1.html</a>
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:173.25pt;
height:129.75pt'>
<v:imagedata src="gates_files/image002.jpg" o:title="Crackers"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img border=0 width=231 height=173
src="gates_files/image002.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1028"><![endif]></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>More humorous observations:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>We took a long walk Sunday through
the park - it looks like laundry day at a Tibetan monastery.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>PDQ Bach should write the <u>Schmatta
Cantata</u> based on the Gates.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><em>The New Yorker</em> magazine
wades in:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Click <a
href="http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/index.ssf?050228ta_talk_schjeldahl">here</a>
for Peter Schjeldahl's article in this week's "Talk of the Town, <a
href="http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/index.ssf?050228ta_talk_schjeldahl">"Gated"</a></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>Some excerpts from the article:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'>The crowd�s many-voiced sound had
an indoor intimacy, like the bright murmur in a theatre, during intermission,
when the play is good and everybody knows that everybody knows it. The over-all
social effect, which was somewhat like that of an electrical blackout or a
major blizzard, minus the inconvenience, was weird and terrific. </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'>Those who deplore �The Gates� as
ugly aren�t wrong, just poor sports. The work�s charm-free, synthetic orange hue�saffron?
no way�is something you would wear only in the woods during deer season, in
order to avoid being shot. The nylon fabric is sullen to the touch. The
proportions of the arches are graceless, and dogs alone esteem the clunky
bases. As for the sometimes heard praise of the work for framing and, in the
process, revealing unsuspected lovelinesses of the Park�C�mon, people! You
don�t need artificial aids to notice things.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Some more positive comments:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>I found the piece grew on me with
each walk I took through the park. </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>It was something I wanted my
children to remember that they had seen.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><span style='color:black'>An
explosion of color where least expected; an interior frame for the many
exterior views of the park--the associations are endless.</span><span
style='font-family:Arial;color:blue'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Some more negative comments:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>It felt claustrophic. I want
to be able to feel expansive in the park, and this did the opposite.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>There was far too much of it; it
felt gluttonous.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>My favorite association to the
project:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>The color reminded me of a television
commercial from my childhood for some brand of tooth paste: there were
orange guardians which were that color protecting pearly white teeth,
arrayed to defeat the armies of tooth decay</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>"So, where's the art?"
--a story related by one respondent:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>A very intense young jogger, early
20s, headphones on, stopped to ask me a few questions in a clipped tone.
"Excuse me - hi. I was just wondering if there was anything going on with
The Gates - any music, dancing, performances, something like that." I told
her that I didn't know of anything. "Oh. So, where's the art?"
I pointed to a few Gates and said, "You're lookin' at it."
"Oh..." She said, before turning her IPod back on and jogging
away.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>One of many comments linking the
color to the orange of construction sites:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>There are places where it looks
nice (vistas, where it accentuates the shape of the landscape; certain
walkways where the light makes the schmattas appear luminous, and the breeze
gives them the appearance of gently undulating sculptures) and other
places where it looks not so nice - for instance: the playground under
construction near Central Park South, where the Gates blend in with the plastic
orange construction site netting and your eye keeps catching it and you think,
"Wow! There sure is a lot of construction going on here," and
then re-adjust your vision and remember, "Oh yeah -it's The Gates...around
a construction site."</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica'>The third
set of responses</span></u><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>�It looked like some kind of giant car wash!�</p>
<p style='margin-left:1.0in'>(variation on this theme): �I drove my car through
five of them before I realized it wasn�t a car wash...)�</p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>�HELP! MAMMA WE'VE BEEN INVADED BY GIGANTIC
"ALL LEGS" CRITTERS....�</p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>����������������������������������������������������������������
</span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1029" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='width:263.25pt;height:174.75pt'>
<v:imagedata src="gates_files/image001.jpg" o:title="NightGate"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img border=0 width=351 height=233
src="gates_files/image003.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1029"><![endif]></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>Isn't the color much more simply PUMPKIN than
otherwise? And would be thinking of it this way make any difference?</p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>A view from above (West Side in the 60s): </p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>�����������������������������������������������������������������
</span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1030" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='width:260.25pt;height:195pt'>
<v:imagedata src="gates_files/image012.jpg" o:title="GatesAbove"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img border=0 width=347 height=260
src="gates_files/image013.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1030"><![endif]></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>And, now, a gay perspective�<b><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#333333'> </span></b><b><span
style='font-family:Verdana;color:#333333'>The <s>Gates</s> Gaytz</span></b><b><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#333333'>:</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;line-height:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#333333'>We were wondering whether or not any Christo-inspired
porn was going to turn up before <a
href="http://www.christojeanneclaude.net/tg.html">�The Gates�</a> comes down
this weekend: �This 23 mile long orange hanky in the back pocket of New York
City announces to all the universe that Central Park is once again the place
for �anything anytime�.� We�re grateful to this anonymous Craigslist poster for
finally explaining the elusive �meaning� of the piece, though we�re still
confused why the installation creates a huge, gaping hole around The Ramble
when viewed from above. Er, on second thought �<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;line-height:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#333333'><a
href="http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/m4m/61180294.html">th�Gaytz - 23</a>
(newyork.craigslist.org)<br>
See also: <a href="http://www.sexuality.org/l/bdsm/hanky.html">Fetish Club
Hanky Code</a> (sexuality.org; orange is indeed the color for �anything
goes��though there�s no listing for saffron)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;line-height:12.0pt'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:#333333'>Update</span></b><span style='font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#333333'> Some cranky non-art appreciating
members of the Craigslist community seem to have banded together and had the
post deleted. Good thing we <a
href="http://www.fleshbot.com/sex/gay/found/the-gates-gaytz-034152.php">saved a
copy</a> for posterity�after all, �The Gates� may be ephemeral, but hot gay sex
in Central Park is <em><span style='font-family:Verdana'>forever</span></em>!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;line-height:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Verdana;color:#333333'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellpadding=0 width=816 style='width:8.5in;
mso-cellspacing:1.5pt;margin-left:1.0in;background:white;mso-padding-alt:6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt'>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes'>
<td width=812 style='width:609.0pt;padding:6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=smallertext1><span style='font-size:8.5pt'>newyork.craigslist.org
> manhattan > men seeking men > <b>th�Gaytz</b></span></span><span
style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span><span class=smallertext1><span style='font-size:8.5pt'>last modified:
Thu, 24 Feb 17:28 EST</span></span><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
<br>
</span><span class=smallertext1><b><span style='font-size:8.5pt'>th�Gaytz -
23</span></b></span><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span><span class=smallertext1><span style='font-size:8.5pt'>Reply to:
anon-61180***@craigslist.org</span></span><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
</span><span class=smallertext1><span style='font-size:8.5pt'>Date:
2005-02-24, 5:27PM EST</span></span><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
<br>
</span><span class=smallertext1><span style='font-size:8.5pt'>I highly urge
you all to go see Christo and Jean-Claude�s phenomenal artistic celebration of
gay sex in public parks before it is dismantled and sent away to the
landfill. </span></span><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:12.0pt'><span
class=smallertext1><span style='font-size:8.5pt'>This 23 mile long orange
hanky in the back pocket of New York City announces to all the universe that
Central Park is once again the place for �anything anytime�. </span></span><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:12.0pt'><span
class=smallertext1><span style='font-size:8.5pt'>After spending the AIDS era
of the 80�s and 90�s wrapping public monuments in fabric prophylactics,
Christo and Jean-Claude are bringing back the reckless spirit of the 70�s in
full-force. </span></span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:12.0pt'><span
class=smallertext1><span style='font-size:8.5pt'>This is just the first
gesture towards making New York City the public sex and art capital of
America. Already Rachel Whiteread has relocated to a studio in DUMBO and
begun casting the negative space of urinals in Manhattan�s most notorious
tearooms. And it shouldn�t be long before Anish Kapoor follows with a giant
mirrored buttplug-shaped monument on the corner of 53rd and Third. </span></span><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:12.0pt'><span
class=smallertext1><span style='font-size:8.5pt'>Only 4 days left�</span></span><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:12.0pt'><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:1;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes'>
<td width=812 style='width:609.0pt;padding:6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt 6.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=smallertext1><span style='mso-ansi-font-size:
12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:
Arial'>[for a version with an illustrative photo�and for those over 18 and
who will not be offended�here is a link to the original posting:<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>� </span><a
href="http://www.fleshbot.com/sex/gay/found/the-gates-gaytz-034152.php">www.fleshbot.com/sex/gay/found/the-gates-gaytz-034152.php</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:12.0pt'><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#333333'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>Veuve Cliquot Gates:</p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'>��������������������������������������������������������������
</span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='width:309pt;height:211.5pt'>
<v:imagedata src="gates_files/image004.jpg" o:title="VQG"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img border=0 width=412 height=282
src="gates_files/image005.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1031"><![endif]></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>And, in conclusion, I repeat
Hargo�s final comment on his wonder project, �The Somerville Gates�:</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><span style='mso-bidi-font-family:
Tahoma;letter-spacing:.75pt'>The response has been great, and I thank you. It
certainly suggests -- among other things, and to paraphrase a famous Somerville
neighbor -- just as there are too few women in science, there are evidently too
few cats in contemporary art.</span></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><img border=0 width=573 height=6
id="_x0000_i1032" src=line1.gif></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><a href="http://www.rlrubens.com/"><i>Return
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