Running Fence by Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Then respond to the work: relate it to what you know about art, the subject matter, the site (landscape) and what you think of it. Be specific¡ªinclude plenty of details about the work and how it was made (see list of questions below). Regardless of what you think of Running Fence personally, your paper should clearly demonstrate the reasoning behind your opinion. Make sure to address the following questions in your paper: • Who are Christo and Jeanne-Claude? • What is Running Fence? • What difficulties did the project involve? • How did local people react to the project? • How did the project challenge some local residents¡¯ ideas about what art is? • What points did the artists find in common with the local residents? • What was involved in the process of making the work? • In your view, what is Running Fence about? Type and double-space your paper, and use a 12-point font (Helvetica or Times, not Geneva)
Response paper: Running Fence by Christo and Jeanne-Claude
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Christo and Jeanne-Claude dealt with environmental artworks in Europe and America, their art works mainly focus on the outdoors and at times involve indoor installations. The art works of Christo and Jeanne Claude are often extensive besides being aesthetically appealing. The artists came up with environmental projects that altered people’s perception about art and the landscape. The “Running Fence” project brought people together as ranchers who interacted less often participated for the completion and full installation of the artwork.
The “Running Fence” was an 18 feet tall fence installed in the 1970’s in Northern California consisting of nylon fabric across the landscape. The fabrics were supported by steel cables, and the project covered roads and private property in the area. The “Running Fence” was temporary, but the project shows that there are barriers that hinder freedom, through separation and divisions created by barriers. Pictures of the project do not show any direct impact on the environment, and the structures are easy to recycle.
Even though, the project ran for merely two weeks there was a lot of opposition from residents and fellow artists who did not have a positive view about the art work that strayed into their domain. At the same time, getting approval for the project was hard, as bureaucracy and interference pessimists and government regulation delayed the project. The project’s installation on uninhabited land, led to more scrutiny on the project’s impact on the environment. At the time, there was worry that the project would block view for residents of the county.
The community around the area had a more reasonable reason for opposing the installation art extending to court battles and focusing on the integrity of the artists. Nonetheless, there were those who did not object to the project, as the art work ran though private land and ranches. Of particular concern to the artists was the length and intensity of negotiation with farmers and local residents to allow the project to go ahead. Hence, there were mixed reactions from supporters and those who opposed the project, and success was mainly due to negotiations and collaborative efforts for the installation.
The reactions that greeted the installation of the project sh...