Christo

This weeks topic led me to thinking about Christo and the controversy that would have come up with his projects. Although he is such an established artist, he would have similar issues to any other site specific artist, although on large scale. Christo and Jeanne-Claude's "Over the River" was a project which recieved huge public uproar, as they proposed to suspend six miles of silver fabric panels over the Arkansas River, which turned out to be a $50-million art event. I have an issue with the thought of such large amounts of money being spent on a temporary installation. For this project Christo had the weight of two federal and four state agencies, two countries and many towns pressing against them. They had the roar of the public to face, with the concerned public and protest groups which formed against Christo.

This type of work in particular makes me wonder who art is for? If there is such objections to an art work then it is not for the public so who is it for? Which is a relevant question when such large amounts of money are being spent on it.