aboudawood_n_christoandjeanne-claude_ la251_2015
DESCRIPTION
Artist Case study of Christo and Jeanne-ClaudeTRANSCRIPT
Discussion of Line, Composition and Color
The artists tend to use vibrant colored fabrics to exemplifytheir design intent. For example, in the Surrounded Islands, the couple chose to use a vibrant pink not only to make the design stand out, but to be in harmony with the colors of the Biscayne Bay waters and the reflectedMiami sky.
When an artwork is created with the fabric, depending on the timeof day, the lines, composition, and color vary. When the sun reflects ontothe project, the creases in between the fabrics create composition by eluding a shadow. When the wind hits the artwork, the lines or creaseschange as well.
When Christo creates his sketches, he uses different sketching techniques such as hatching, cross hatching, bracelet, stippling, etc. He does not simply rely on one technique when he creates and communicateshis drawings. He also establishes different line weights when he sketches to portray a three dimensional figure.
Hatch
Bracelet
Scribble
Cross Hatch
Stipple
Solid
Composition Sketch
Combination
Line type label
Since the uses of fabrics are extremely fragile and have a lot of details when they overlap, the use of vibrant colorsexemplifies the objects major and minor details.
Lesson ONE : I learned that artists could create in landscapesand still call themselves artists. Christo and Jeanne-Claudecreate in landscapes; they create movement so people caninteract with the environment, and with each other. However,they are not classified as landscape architects but as artists.Their projects consist of guiding people through, around,beneath, and above it. They manage to create space in thefield they are working on with such simplicity. With the walkway, people are tempted to walk there rather than the grass.
Lesson TWO : I learned that not all artworks or projects mustbe permanent. I used to always believe that what matters most about a certain work that is created is how long it staysand how long the legacy stands. Upon researching Christoand Jeanne-Claude’s projects and artworks, I noticed thatthe majority of their projects were temporary and were displayed for only a short period of time. I learned that I should shift my thinking by realizing artworks as a momentary substance. It is about the present and about howpeople interact at the same instant. It isn’t about how peoplewill deal with it in the future. Artwork is supposed to create the visible from the invisible, it is not about how long itwill be displayed for.
Lesson THREE: I learned that sometimes giving up on a project is for the best. Not every work or idea that is thought of will be executed efficiently. In Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s case, many of their projects had to go through a long series of approvals which made them lose interest towards their work. I learned that being stubborn about a certain idea and not being able to let go sometimes can reflect on my future work. Letting go and starting fresh can be beneficial when you do not become extremely attached to your work. For example, it was difficult to receive approval for the Lower Manhattan Packed Buildings.
Composition diagram1.5” x 3”
Wall of Oil Barrels - The Iron Curtain, Rue Visconti, Paris, 1961-62 http://www.christojeanneclaude.net
Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida 1980-83. http://www.christojeanneclaude.net
Wrapped Trees, Fondation Beyeler and Berower Park,Riehen, Switzerland, 1997-98. http://www.christojeanneclaude.net
Valley Curtain, Rifle, Colorado, 1970-72 http://www.christojeanneclaude.net
Valley Curtain, Rifle, Colorado, 1970-72 http://www.christojeanneclaude.net
"Lower Manhattan Packed Buildings". Not built. http://www.christojeanneclaude.net
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Creative StatisticsChristo and Jeanne-Claude nevertravelled on the same flight just in case one of the planes crashedthe other would continue their works.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude Timeline
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Discussion of Christo and Jeanne-Claudeand the importance of visual communication
Christo Vladimirov Javacheff, born in Bulgaria and Jeanne-Claude, born in Moscow, share the same birthday: June 13, 1935. The couple met in 1958, when Christo was commissioned to create a portrait of Jeanne-Claude’s motherin Paris.
In 1994, the couple announced that every project createdwould be labeled as Christo and Jeanne-Claude; one entity.Much controversy and criticism arose because Christo drew all the drawings. Thirty years later, everyone knew that the couple worked together so there was no point in arguingabout who does what.
When asked what inspired the couple, their response was that in every idea, their hearts and brains were responsible for it. None of their ideas came from a previous design.Christo and Jeanne-Claude also found inspiration whenabout twenty out of their sixty projects succeeded because they either did not get permission to create it or they simply lost interest.
During an interiew, Christo was asked where a perfectChristo and Jeanne-Claude work would be upon lookingat a landscape. He replied saying that there were no rules.The couple explained how their works include elements of
political, social, economical and environmental.
The idea of using fabrics for the majority of their works began when Christo wrapped random things. He noticed thatwhen he wrapped with fabrics, a new identity was formulated.Even though when the objects were wrapped and their intricatedesign was covered, the simpler details stood out which established the design’s structural base.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s work is found either in urbanor rural areas. The artists use a part of the environment for a temporary time only. No matter what weather condition takes place, or whether the materials are recycled or not, if a person were to go back to the site, they would still see a small sectiondedicated to the project that was placed there.
The artists make their works at a larger scale mainly to witnessthe outcomes they establish. Some works are temporary placed but when it is recycled, there is still a landmark or legacy left behind. Even though it is taken down, the project still exists because it created movement.
drawing exampleimage produced by creative individual; provide citation for source of image
To notate
The artists created this Wall of Barrels to notate and portray the effects of the Berlin Wall. During the protests and demonstrations, Christo and Jeanne-Claude created this work to show the effects of this wall and what it will cause.With the Wall of Barrels, the narrow one way street closed the street traffic, cutting all access and communication between the street across.The barrier between the two sides of the wall created a dead end. The couple excelled in noting their purpose of their design and how it communicates to the people and their surroundings.
Wall of Oil Barrels
To present
The artists made the invisible visible by creating a barrier in the valley. The orange fabric curtaincan be seen as a stopping point. The figure in the field is the orange fabric because without it, thevalley would be continuous and directed towards the vanishing point. The figure creates movementfor the ground by creating and eluding space. The artists presented their ideas by constructing a stopping point to create a connection between both sides of the valley.
To measure
In this image, the artist’s drawing made them visualize how much pink fabric they needed forthe Surrounded Islands. In order to get a precise measurement they had their drawings scaled.Since each of the islands varied in size, Christo drew a sketch and measurements to indicate howwide and long they needed their fabric to be. Without sketching and mapping out where the workis going to be placed, the process will be more time consuming and the measurements will be off.
To observe
The Wrapped Trees offer a different look for the trees. When the trees are wrapped, the branches appear more intricate and detailed. As the light reflects inside the wrapped, the branches appear as if they are creating a skeleton. The branches act as the figure while the wrapped fabric as the ground.With the fabric surrounding the tree, one would assume that the branches would be hidden or disacknowledged but when observed carefully, the wrapped fabric makes the branches stand out even more.
drawing exampleimage produced by creative individual; provide citation for source of image
drawing exampleimage produced by creative individual; provide citation for source of image
drawing exampleimage produced by creative individual; provide citation for source of image
Surrounded Islands
Valley Curtain
Wrapped Trees
The U
mbr
ellas
Birth
place
of Ch
risto
Birth
place
of Je
anne
-Clau
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Air Package, Van Abbemuseum,Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Wrapped Medieval Tower and WrappedFountain located in Spoleto, Italy.
Valley Curtain, Rifle Colorado1952Jeanne-Claude receivesdegree of Latin/Philosophyin University of Tunis. Christo attends University of
Bulgaria and studies Fine Arts.
Christo and Jeanne-Claudemeet in Paris.
The Running Fence, in Sonomaand Marin Counties, California.Around 2,000,000 sq. ft.
In progress: The Mastaba inUnited Arab Emirates.
Wrapped walk ways locatedin Kansas City, Missouri.
Surrounded Islands. Locatedin Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida.
To Diagram
To Illustrate(process)
To Display
The U
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Wor
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Wol
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P
hoto
grap
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Jean
ne-C
laude
- Univ
ersity
of Tu
nisUniversity of Bulgaria
Surrounded Isl
ands
The G
ates
Runn
ing Fe
nce
Wrap
ped R
eichs
tag
1953-1956
1958
1960Their first son, Cyril, is born.
Wall of Oil Barrels-First Collaboration for Christoand Jeanne-Claude.
1961
1964Couple move permanentlyto New York City.
1966
1968
1972
1976
1977
1978
1983
1991The Umbrellas. Blue located in Ibaraki, Japan. Yellow located inCalifornia, USA.
1998Wrapped Trees. Located in Riehen, Switzerland.
1998The Gates. Located inCentral Park, NYC.
2009Jeanne-Claudedied November 18in Manhattan, NY.
Wrapped Walk Ways, Jacob Loose Park, Kansas City, Missouri, 1977-78 http://www.christojeanneclaude.netAl
bert
May
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The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005. http://www.christojeanneclaude.ne