Christo And The Running Fence Essay

Art itself is defined as works that are a product of human creativity and imagination however what exactly fits the criteria of art and who’s to say what is and isn’t art. Especially since everyone has a different perception of it art could be painting of a breathtaking landscape or splatter of paint on a canvas. Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s the Running Fence is primary example of this never ending debate.
The Installation art piece that was the main subject of 1977 documentary of the same name was comprised of a veiled fence that ran for 24.5 miles and extended across the hills of Sonoma and Marin counties in Northern California. The 18-foot high fence was constituted of 2,050 panels of white nylon fabric that was hung from steel cables by the methods of 350,000 hooks. 2,050 steel poles were stuck into the ground and braced by steel wires anchored to the earth supported the cables. Despite being up for only 2 weeks creators Christo and Jeanne-Claude went through a long and grueling process of actually getting the work approved having to face the many concerns and protests of the community many of them
The bright fabric would reflect light and create various contours lines thought the hills and by placing the constantly flowing curtains in foreground of the calm hills a nice contrast as well. While the breeze blowing through the piece gives the work a good sense of natural constant movement, as the wind never lets Running Fence look exactly the same. The wind also gives the work rhythm as the wind makes it seem like the piece is dancing on the hills. The Repetition of the on going white fabric also gives us a stimulating and visually attractive sight. While the visual elements and principles of design are both very important factors in what makes the Running Fence, there are other factors that played a role in its