Improving on Nature

Artist Christo’s Plan to Shroud River Hangs Like a Cloud Over Communities

By Ken Wright, 3-17-06

It’ll be a massive work of art: a rippling roof of fabric covering the Arkansas River Gorge east of Salida, Colo., for more than six and a half miles. Tentatively scheduled for two weeks during the summer of 2009, the “Over the River” project would be comprised of nearly a thousand nylon panels hanging between 10 and 24 feet over the river, anchored by cables to 2,400 cement blocks placed along the banks. The panels would let light and water through, and move in the wind.

Conceived by artist team Christo and Jeanne-Claude (married, but no last name for either, but, oddly, both born on June 13, 1935), “Over the River” has been in the works for nearly 15 years. It’s only the latest – and, rumors say, perhaps the last – of many such grand creations by the pair.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude first collaborated on their large-scale art endeavors in 1961, on two projects, titled “Stacked Oil Barrels” and “Dockside Packages at Cologne Harbor.” In 1972, the team came to Colorado to erect “Valley Curtain,” near Rifle. The project was shredded by 60-mile-an-hour winds in a little more than a day. Most recently, they created a 16-day exhibit in New York City’s Central Park that featured more than 20 miles of nylon-paneled walkways. Millions visited the display.

And that’s what has many residents along the Arkansas River concerned.

In the summer, this section of the Arkansas River is hugely popular for commercial rafting. Along the rim of the river gorge also runs the scenic U.S. 50, which is a popular auto-tour route – as well as the main thoroughfare for residents. This, of course, makes the site perfect for the artists, who want the public to be able to enjoy their work from both above, along the road, and below, on the river. For the people who live in the little towns along the river, though, the project threatens to choke the area.

During the project’s public comment period for a BLM environmental assessment, between early December to early February the agency received some 1,100 letters and emails. Meetings held for the EA process drew up to 300 people in communities up and down the Arkansas River and U.S. 50, from Canon City to Cotapaxi. Also, about 700 residents from the most-affected towns have also organized into a group called “Rags Over the Arkansas River.”

Comments to the BLM targeted congestion, distraction of drivers on the highway, delayed response of emergency services, and the impact on bighorn sheep and birds that utilize the river – and the projected quarter-million spectators who will encounter the many rattlesnakes the inhabit the canyon rim in the summer. As an example of the dangers, on Feb. 15 a truck crashed on the stretch of U.S. 50 alongside the Christo site and spilled uranium ore across the highway.

Arguments in favor of the project cite the clean track record of the artists on their other big artworks around the world, and notes that the project could create up to 700 temporary jobs while bringing more visitors to both the towns and the rafting industry.

According to a BLM official, the comments run about 60 percent against the project. The EA will be released in the fall, later than the originally planned June release because of the number of comments. Adding to the uncertainty of the entire affair, the EA can be appealed after its release. Meanwhile, the Colorado Department of Transportation has asked that a traffic plan be drawn from a analysis performed by a consulting firm hired by the artists, and the BLM has asked for a detailed building schedule.

Meanwhile, the debate goes on. The Denver Post’s “Rocky Mountain Ranger” column offered a sarcastic jab at the whole idea. Author Susan Tweit, a resident of nearby Salida, also weighed in on the issue in High Country News’s “Writers on the Range” syndicated column recently, arguing that regardless of what happens, the project has already been a success. “Whether the project makes it through the permit process, it has already succeeded in engaging communities up and down the canyon,” she wrote, “spurring us to talk about what we cherish. That, to my mind, is the whole point of art: It forces us to pay attention; it transforms our view of the everyday world.”

Closer to home, Colorado Central Magazine, a monthly publication covering south central Coloraodo’s Arkansas River and San Luis valleys, made the “Over the River” debate its cover story for the most recent issue, titled “Christozilla: Raging through the Canyon.” In Martha Quillen’s editorial, she observes that “problems result when one man’s dream is another man’s nightmare.” She also notes, though, that “the irony is this time around it’s the art lovers who are talking about serving our economic interests and seizing the important opportunity.”
[End of article]

Comment By Jonathan Weber, 3-18-06

Christo's projects always provoke controversy before they are built - and generally leave the critics quiet and everyone else raving once they actually happen. Having experienced several of his projects I personally think the guy is an unbelieveable genius, and brave too. If I lived near the Arkanasas River Gorge I'd be honored to host such a thing. It's only two weeks folks, if you really can't bear the traffic then take a vacation!

Comment By Brodie Farquhar, 3-19-06

I haven't asked my Cotopaxi aunt and cousins how they feel about the Christo project, but I tend to agree with Jonathan -- protests are much ado about a two week project, and two weeks of extra business is just that -- higher business levels and I hope, higher profits. When all the hoohaw is done and the project is dismantled, take the extra money and invest in a vacation or plow the money back into local business.

Comment By K. Stachowski, 3-20-06

Personally, I think it's sad -- and arrogant (as opposed to "brave") -- that Christo's "vision" is to comment upon and "enhance" nature in this spectacular river gorge by shrouding it with nylon, a synthetic made from petroleum. Yech.

"Higher profits" is one way to look at it, certainly it's the American capitalist way. But many of the folks commenting against the project are concerned about the residents who CAN'T just up and take a two week vacation during the spectacle--the bighorn sheep and birds of prey whose sensitive habitat will be impacted. We're talking steel cables (up to 5/8" thick) anchored into bedrock or rock/soil in the bluffs above the river via drilled holes up to 10"...this is no small impact. At what price "art"?

Perhaps I'm revealing my provincialism because I consider this more ego than art, or perhaps I'm just one of the people you can't fool some or all of the time. Whatever. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go wrap Missoula's open space (I'll include Lolo Peak) in black Hefty garbage bags (also a petroleum product) to represent my vision of the impact that human arrogance and greed have upon the land.

Comment By Coco, 3-21-06

If only those now engaged communities that writer Susan Tweit mentions would attack more important and less redeeming stuff. Like those truckloads of uranium ore getting strewn on the highway, for example. Or the poverty that prohibits someone from leaving during the exhibit. But whatever it takes to get engaged I guess. Coco

Comment By Marshall, 4-17-06

Here's a few facts, that are indisputable and backed by solid, incontrovertible evidence. Fact #1, Christo initially came to the valley predicting 1 million people would view his display. The Reichstag in Germany had 5 million visitors, France 3 million, so his displays are gaining in attendance. Christo now relates only 250 thousand people will view this display. Why ?? Could it be that at maximum capacity, the 250 thousand figure is just slightly in excess of the road's capacity, 3 times that many visitors would result in an immediate denial. Christo's people have been around the block, and done these things before, their tune changes daily, or as the situation warrants. Smart people plan for a worst case scenario, those that don't are generally at a loss when the worst happens, and they don't have a plan.

Fact #2, three years of disruption to our lives, three years of traffic in the canyon, you should have been there when the Cotter uranium truck closed the canyon for 6 hours, talk about irate people. Now, imagine 3 years of this. At first glance, it appears to be a wonderful display, however it is being proposed in one of the worst places possible. Eagles are indeed a concern, being both endangered, and federally protected. But, what they heck, kill off a few in the name of profit, that's Ok with you, correct ?? The possibility of wildfire, the homes of the residents in the canyon, we've all got insurance, right ? So that's ok that we have the very real potential to lose our homes to fire, all in the name of profit. People might die as they can't get to the hospital, our Sheriff related to me that there will most likely be at least one traffic fatality, but we can justify that, all in the name of "art" and more importantly profit.

Fact #3, Just because Christo says it, doesn't make it so. His tunes change daily, and to suit his needs. For those that have their heads in the sand, and dollar signs in their eyes, this looks like a wonderful thing. For those that actually know what's going on, we're quite apprehensive about the entire thing. I will not go on vacation for 3 years, and do not feel that I should be subject to what have been described as "minor inconveniences" by advocates of the tarping, . . They are not minor to me and the 4500 people that inhabit the canyon.

Someone wrote a while back that they would take a raft trip under the tarps. Sure, if you can actually get to the river in the string of traffic, which Christo admits will average 5 MPH. Now those are the facts, and I still don't feel selfish in opposing this project. I'm a taxpayer and there will be real costs to me if this project is approved, I don't see Christo writing me a check, or the other residents of Bighorn Sheep Canyon

Comment By lynn, 7-11-06

As someone who has to travel Col. St. Hghwy 50 frequently for business .....such an "artistic display" would be an absolute nightmare with increased traffic. It doesn't take much of a distraction to create a traffic jam/detour as things stand now. I also believe what's more important is the negative impact it would have on the wildlife in the area: 1st the construction to build the anchors/supports for the drapes; 2nd the actual drapes themselves; 3rd the added traffic; 4th dismantling the whole thing. Our wildlife depends on this area and will NOT understand someone's artistic view.

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