Christo

Christo (krĭs`tō), 1935–, Bulgarian-American artist, b. Gabrovo as Christo Vladimirov Javacheff, studied Sofia, Vienna, and Paris. His early experiments in assemblage led to his trademark device of wrapping familiar objects in cloth and other materials, giving them an artificial skin that simultaneously conceals, reveals, and transforms them. Since 1958 he has worked with his wife and artistic partner,

Jeanne-Claude (de Guillebon), 1935–, b. Casablanca, studied Univ. of Tunis. The two met in Paris and moved to New York City in 1964. A leading figure in conceptual art, Christo, in collaboration with Jeanne-Claude, has specialized in large-scale temporary outdoor installations. Running Fence (1976), a shimmering fabric curtain, was strung more than 24 mi (39 km) across the rolling N California landscape. Other projects have included surrounding 11 islands in Florida's Biscayne Bay with floating hot-pink fabric (1983), wrapping the Pont Neuf in Paris (1985), concurrent installations of thousands of 20-ft (6-m) tall umbrellas—blue near Tokyo and yellow near Los Angeles (1991), and wrapping Berlin's Reichstag in silvery fabric (1995). On the paths and natural contours of New York City's Central Park the two created (2005) The Gates, a meandering installation of 7,500 saffron-hued rectangular vinyl gates. Each was 16-ft (5-m) tall and hung, to about halfway down, with a pleated nylon panel colored to match, which blew with the wind and shifted color with the changing light.

Bibliography

See dual biography by B. Chernow (2002); studies by D. Laporte (1986), J. Schellmann and J. Benecke (1988), M. Vaizey (1990), and J. Baal-Teshuva (1995); D. and A. Maysles, dir., documentary films: Christo's Valley Curtain (1974), Running Fence (1978), Islands (1986), Christo in Paris (1990), and Umbrellas (1995).

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Christo

 orig. Christo Javacheff

(born June 13, 1935, Gabrovo, Bulg.) Bulgarian-born U.S. environmental artist. After attending Sofia's Fine Arts Academy, he moved to Paris in 1958, where he began exhibiting his works with the nouveaux réalistes. His earliest sculptures were composed of cans and bottles, many of which were wrapped in paper, plastic, or fabric. He eventually expanded his projects to include buildings and landscapes. In 1964 he moved to New York City. Christo is noted for such monumental outdoor projects as Valley Curtain (1972) in Rifle Gap, Colo., and Running Fence (1976) in Marin and Sonoma counties, Calif. In 1995 he wrapped the Berlin Reichstag in metallic silver fabric. The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979–2005 (2005) featured 7,503 steel gates stretched across 23 miles (37 km) of walkway in Central Park. The gates stood 16 feet (5 metres) high and were decorated with saffron-coloured cloth panels. Though his displays, which are temporary and involve hundreds of workers, are controversial among environmentalists, they have been critically well received. Since 1961 most have been collaborative efforts with his wife, Jeanne-Claude (b. 1935).

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Christo

full name Christo Jaracheff. born 1935, US artist, born in Bulgaria; best known for works in which he wraps buildings, monuments, or natural features in canvas or plastic