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| Image from Christo and Jeanne Claude's website http://www.christojeanneclaude.net/ |
Jeanne Claude and Christo are designers/artists that find inspiration from 'without.' Their work is difficult to categorize because they do not categorize it themselves. The work they do is large scale installations that are meant to be temporary. They create works that are inspired by, and meant to have a conversation with, the environment in which they are set.
The words large scale don't encompass the vastness of their designs. Running Fence was 18 feet high and 24 1/2 miles long. It was a fence created from canvas that curved and flowed and meandered through the hills of private ranchers and farmers in Sonoma and Marin counties, finally terminating in Bodega Bay.
The project was meant to be viewed in real life. It was up for only 14 days in 1976. Those who were able to experience this work would have a better analysis, but because I can only go by photographs, my analysis may not be as impressive as one that was given by a person who witnessed this project.
The roaming, rolling, free hills of northern california are beautiful, and inspire a feeling of vastness and freedom. Running Fence is like a highlighter. It draws attention to what so many take advantage of everyday. It illuminates the wide open rolling green hills. It meanders and rolls with them. The choice of fabric allowed for the bay winds to enliven the composition. The color of the canvas contrasted the darker grass, and reflected the beautiful changes of light throughout the day and night.
To take inspiration from nature and environment is a common way artists find inspiration from without. The way that Jeanne Claude and Christo applied that inspiration was unique. They wished to use the landscape by engaging with it.
For more information and to view the source of the information in this blog visit http://www.christojeanneclaude.net/rf.shtml
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