The Gates: Project for Central Park, New York City

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0883630036 ISBN 13: 9780883630037

Publisher: Hugh Lauter Levin Associates, Inc, 2003

On February 12, 2005, weather permitting, New York artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude will complete their temporary work of art, The Gates, Project for Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005.
First conceived in 1979, Christo and Jeanne-Claude's vision of 7,500 gates (each 16 feet high), following the edges of Central Park's 23 miles of footpaths, will transform Central Park. Saffron-colored fabric panels will hang seven feet above the ground blowing in the wind and delighting the public walking beneath with a warm glow of translucent color and free-floating grace. The project will remain for 16 days before The Gates is removed and the materials recycled.
This book, designed by Christo, records the evolution of The Gates project. Thirty-eight full-color illustrations of Christo's original preparatory works - from early sketches of Central Park to his most recent drawings, collages, maps, and technical diagrams - serve as the centerpiece for this book. Photographs from the community board hearings, public forums, public and private meetings, contract negotiations, and life-size tests complement the running narrative in this book, giving readers an insider's perspective on The Gates.

Review:

The Gates will provide a lasting visual tribute to a vast, expansive project....[a] unique, recommended pick. -- Library Bookwatch, July 2004