The Gates
On Saturday I went up to New York to see Christo’s The Gates. This is the much discussed installation of 7500 steel structures with saffron fabric hanging from the horizontal beam.
Some of the reaction has been hostile.
But I found that I liked the installation a great deal. It is probably not a coincidence that the Christo’s gates remind me of Japanese torii.
I had visited Inari shrine in Kyoto, Japan where a thousand torii wind through the countryside. An experience that at the time I was quite taken with. That probably explains my affinity for the gates.
I left home early and got to New York without too much problem. Through the Lincoln Tunnel, up 8th which becomes Central Park West. There I got my first glimpse of the gates. Left on 86th street and across the park to 5th Avenue and down to the Metropolitan Museums parking lot. I had read that the Metro’s roof top garden had a good top view of the gates. I had about an hour to kill, so I strolled through the Park entering at Miners Gate. It was great to be there early for although there were already quite a few people about I did have some areas to myself. I discovered an unmentioned aspect of the gates. You can hear them. As the fabric rustles in the wind there is a unique sound probably reminiscent of a sail.
In The Wind
Just before 9:30 I returned to the museum where to my surprise a large crowd had gathered. I was afraid it would take awhile to get in but after a short delay the doors open and the crowd was handled quite well. I wandered about a bit and then realized I better get to roof before it got any more crowded. The line for the elevator was already quite long so I asked about stairs. They had a stairwell that went right to the rooftop. A guide warned it was five flights but one of the advantages of fitness is that the stairs were no problem. The view was interesting but disappointing – you really couldn’t see all that much of the gates. On the other hand the view from Belvedere Castle had been much more interesting.
From The Roof
I spent a couple of hours in the museum than went back to my car to change into running gear and headed out to the park. I retraced my steps over to the west side of the park and turned north. As much a possible I tried to stay on the path under the gates. I particular liked when the gates were on steps and when they went right up to a tunnel only to continue on the other side.
Through The Bridge
I circled Great Hill then up to Central Park North where I turned east until I circled Harlem Meer. These were my favorite vistas - both looking toward Nutter’s Battery and the view from NB. A short run thru East Meadow back to the museum where I stopped to admire the Obelisk.
oblelisk
I recrossed the park at 72nd and admired the view to Bethesda fountain. Then down West Drive toward Columbus Circle. Any one who has run the NY marathon knows this as the Marathon Finish. The gates are particularly thick here and at one place a series runs side by side. I ran past the Heckscher building where there was another great view. then past the Wellman Rink where I turned north and back eventually to the museum. I think I got to see almost all the gates and ran under many of them.
That’s the tour – is this art and/or is it a success. I can’t say. If some of what I saw in the museum is considered art than the gates certainly are. I can only say they gave me a good feeling, enhanced I must say by knowing they are so transient. The huge crowds I think contributed to the experience. Somehow all us observers became part of the work. I heard one man tell another that normally the park would almost be empty on a cold February Saturday. And now there were thousands of people sharing one experience.
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