Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Over The River

Anti-Christo ad upsets groups

source: Copyright © 2006 The Cañon City Daily Record

Anti-Christo ad upsets groups

Debbie Bell
The Daily Record

An artist’s rendering of the proposed ‘Over The River’ project, which would cover a portion of the Arkansas River west of Cañon City in 2010 if approved. An ad listing groups opposed to the project upset a few organizations.
Courtesy Wolfgang Volz

If the proposed “Over the River” project was not controversial enough already, an ad placed in the Cañon City Daily Record by a group opposing the plan stirred the pot to create an explosion of heated debate.

Rags Over the Arkansas River, Inc., placed and paid for an advertisement in the Aug. 4 edition that in-cluded a list of organizations it claimed expressed opposition to the project.

ROAR was formed to fight the project by international artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who propose to drape fabric over a portion of the Arkansas River west of Cañon City around 2010.

At least two of the organizations listed in the ad have demanded retractions, claiming they have no official position on the project. But the president of ROAR said the groups have gone on public record with opposition to the project, and he can’t understand why they are contesting the ad.

“When somebody says something, then I think they’re going to stand behind it,” said ROAR President Dan Ainsworth. “I’m one of those people who mean what you say and say what you mean.”

Ainsworth said the two groups demanding retraction, Deer Mountain Fire Protection District and Arkansas Valley Audubon Society, are actually on public record as being opposed to the project. He said he and Cathey Young, another ROAR member, have personally viewed letters the organizations sent to the Bureau of Land Management expressing their disapproval of the project.

“The letters listed their concerns,” Ainsworth said. “Now, they’re all backpedaling. They’re not necessarily changing their stance, they’re just trying to claim they never had a stance. That’s really not totally true.”

He also said SeEtta Moss, conservation chairperson for AVAS, attended a meeting with the artists in late spring and was vocally opposed to the project.

“She just went on and on about how she was against this project and it couldn’t be allowed to happen,” Ainsworth said. “She was so adamant about it at that meeting.”

Moss said in a “Letter to the Editor,” the ad “shocked” her because her group has not taken an official position on the proposed project.

“We did file comments with the BLM expressing our specific concerns regarding the impacts that the preliminary plans for the proposed Christo project would have on birds, other wildlife and other natural resources,” Moss said.

She explained the group seeks to promote good conservation practices and therefore is waiting for final information to address the issues.

“It is most unfortunate that our position was inaccurately portrayed in the ad,” Moss said.

The other organization protesting the ad, DMFPD, said they have taken a neutral stand on the Christo project.

“Obviously, they have not told the truth,” said DMFPD board chairman Ron Carter, of ROAR. “I saw the ad in the newspaper and was real surprised because it’s nowhere close to the truth.”

Carter said upon seeing the ad he called the ROAR office to demand a retraction and was told by the woman who answered the phone to write a “Letter to the Editor.” He said he argued for a separate paid ad retracting the claim and was eventually hung up on.

Ainsworth did not counter that statement but said Carter was speaking with the wrong person, Ainsworth’s wife.

“He called my home and talked to my wife,” Ainsworth said. “He started reading her the riot act, but she didn’t have anything to do with the ad. I called him back later that night, and we had a pretty good discus-sion about it.”

Carter said his organization is “working very hard to stay absolutely neutral.”

“We were very shocked and surprised that someone would misrepresent our stance this way and have no idea why they would,” Carter said. “Obviously, we do have concerns just like any responsible agency would, but we are going to work with all the parties concerned to see if we can resolve those concerns.”

Ainsworth took full responsibility for placing the ad, although the general content was approved by the ROAR board.

“We’ve already decided we won’t even use anybody else’s quotes or anybody else’s names from now on,” Ainsworth said. “We’re not going to quote anybody.”

Although further ROAR communications will reflect only the opinions and ideas of its members, Ainsworth still thinks there is an easy answer to the entire conflict.

“I think this whole Christo thing would be put to bed if people came out and said they were against it,” Ainsworth said. “People need to come out and say what they mean. Everybody is worried about being politically correct and not hurting anybody’s feelings or stirring the pot, but they won’t say that.”

Debbie Bell may be reached at dbell@ccdailyrecord.com.

Artists proudly discuss work at FCA event

source: Copyright © 2006 The Cañon City Daily Record

Artists proudly discuss work at FCA event

David Young
The Daily Record

Surrounded by photographs and drawings of their works of art, Christo and Jeanne-Claude gushed to a room full of fans like a pair of proud parents.

In a way, the world-renowned artist’s work is like a child to them. Each is a labor of love that takes nearly a lifetime to complete.

On Saturday night at the Fremont Center for the Arts, Christo and Jeanne-Claude made a special appear-ance in honor of an “Over the River” exhibit, featuring preparatory drawings of the proposed plan to drape cloth over the Arkansas River between Cañon City and Salida.

As vibrant as Jeanne-Claude’s bright hair, the artist’s excitedly discussed some of the works on display in the Center’s gallery and answered a handful of questions from audience members.

“A lot of these (works) are our past, but a lot of them are our future,” Christo said. “These 11 original works are unique pieces done by my own hand.”

Christo explained this processes when it comes to creating preparatory works for a project are much like that of an architect. After studying the site in person and taking photographs, Christo draws the images of what he expects the project to look like when it is finished.

“Because it is not your typical type of art exhibit you are used to when you stare at a beautiful painting, you really have to read (the drawings),” Jeanne-Claude said.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude passed the microphone back and forth, each eagerly trying to say as much as they could about their future project to the packed room.

“The Gates” in New York City, “Valley Curtain” in Rifle, “The Wall” in German and “Running Fences” in California are all among the artists’ other projects currently on display at the center for the arts.

All of the 11 “Over The River” drawings by Christo are for sale, starting at $25,000. His works have his-torically gone up in value over time. Jeanne-Claude said a preparatory work in 1980 that sold for $98 is worth $140,000 today.

“They are all unique works because they have market value,” Christo said. “Their value goes up as we get more and more wrinkles,” added Jeanne-Claude.

All money raised from the sales of their works goes toward funding the artist’s next project.

“I could be covered in diamonds, or I could buy the materials for works of art,” Jeanne-Claude said.

The event, which featured wine, beer and food for guests, was well attended by visitors from across the country.

Nona Powers, an art history teacher from San Diego, Calif., made the drive with her husband, Joe.

“I admire them as artists, but I also admire their integrity because they have not sold out,” Powers said. “They’re not in it for the money. They’re in it for the art.”

Powers has seen Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s “Gates” and “Umbrella’s” projects and is planning on com-ing back to see the “Over the River” if it occurs, which would be at the earliest 2010.

One of the aspects of the style of art that Christo and Jeanne-Claude create is the all-encompassing aspect of it.

“ In (‘Over the River’), you can be over it, beside it and under it. You’re going to be able to float down the river and look through it. It’s like looking through nature in a new way,” Powers said. “ It is all encompass-ing. You’re using all your senses, but what I like most is you’re in it.”

Even those not familiar with “Over the River,” such as Gabrielle Woodbury of Blue Lake, Calif., were intrigued by the presentation.

Woodbury, familiar with the artists through college, was curious about the faces behind the large-scale works of art.

“I think that they are wonderful together, almost like one individual with two separate bodies,” Woodbury said. “Which I really get because of the entire process.”

Christo and Jeanne-Claude said the outpouring of support from the community “warms their hearts” and thanked everyone on hand.

Jeanne-Claude also took time to address the opposition to the project saying, “There is opposition to any project, not just ‘Over the River.’ But afterwards it’s hard to find people who admit to having been opposed to the project.”

After the formal presentation and question-and-answer session Christo and Jeanne-Claude retired to the parking lot where they mingled with fans, something that Powers adores about the artists.

“Most artists (wouldn’t interact with fans), but Christo and Jeanne-Claude are unique,” Powers said. “They are warm and great people.”

California couple takes in Christo FCA exhibit

source: Copyright © 2006 The Cañon City Daily Record

California couple takes in Christo FCA exhibit

Debbie Bell
The Daily Record

A California couple planned their summer vacation around a visit to the Christo and Jeanne-Claude exhibit that opened Wednesday at Fremont Center for the Arts featuring 11 pieces of original artwork.

Paul Aplin said the entire Fremont County community should be honored to host not only the exhibit, but the “Over the River” project, as well.

“This is a huge opportunity,” Aplin said Wednesday as he viewed the exhibit with his wife, Linda. “This county does not realize the magnitude of what it is being offered.”

The Aplins are residents of Palo Alto, Calif., and said they have traveled extensively to view other interactive exhibits by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The couple has viewed the artists’ work “The Gates” in New York City, The Umbrellas north of Los Angeles, and Running Fence in Sonoma and Marin counties of California.

They plan to attend Over the River if it wins final approval with a group of 12 or 14 family and friends. The Aplins usually stay at each exhibit four or five days.

“I think their artwork is fun,” Linda said. “I think it’s nice to watch people interact with the exhibits.”

Aplin said he enjoys watching how each different piece of art interacts with its environment and how the people relate to the art.

“The magnitude of this is very compelling,” Aplin said.

The Aplins’ time spent in New York City gave them the perfect opportunity to see the relationships between art, environment and humanity.

“The fabrics would wave all at different times, so you could see the environment interact with the art,” Aplin said. “This brought people into the park and into portions of the park they had never before been in. It actually changed the way people interacted with their city.”

He said he was most excited to see how the Colorado weather would interact with shimmering fabric panels the artists propose to drape over the Arkansas River in August, 2010.

“I will be really interesting to see rain coming through the fabric,” Aplin said. “How fascinating that will be.”

The Aplins drove through the Arkansas River Canyon Tuesday on their way to Cañon City but said their view could not do justice to the scenery because it was pouring rain at the time. They were heading back up Wednesday afternoon to visit the proposed site for the project.

“Your city needs to address this opportunity,” Aplin said. “This is a huge financial opportunity. You have everything you need here; all you have to do is weave it together.”

Aplin said he was not surprised to find some local resistance to Over the River.

“Every other community had the same kind of opposition,” Aplin said. “Simply address the issues and move on.”

He said the project would attract higher-income professional people who would pour money into the area.

“My guess is this would attract two to three hundred thousand people from all over the world,” Aplin said.

Mary Hammer, executive director of FCA, said the Aplins were a classic case to prove what a draw the project would be to the area.

“This is an unbelievable opportunity for our community,” Hammer said. “Many in this county do not realize the magnitude of this.”

The Aplins were excited to be in on the ground floor of the project and were considering volunteering for the event itself, although it would take weeks away from their work as advertising executives.

“It’s one of those things we would love to do,” Aplin said, “but the time commitment is difficult.”

The couple was so excited about Over the River, they worked Wednesday to make reservations at both a local bed and breakfast and an Arkansas River rafting company for the time frame the project would be on display.

“This will be up and then gone. It just disappears,” Aplin said, “never to be seen again.”

‘Over the River’ artists request EIS

source: Copyright © 2006 The Cañon City Daily Record

‘Over the River’ artists request EIS

Debbie Bell
The Daily Record

The artists proposing the “Over the River” project to drape part of the Arkansas River with fabric panels have requested a more in-depth investigation into the potential impacts the venture could have.
The Bureau of Land Management’s Royal Gorge Field Office has already begun work on an Environmental Impact Statement at the request of artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The survey is expected to take at least another year.

Already working on an Environmental Assessment for the project, the BLM is simply transitioning that information into the more extensive EIS.

“This is being done at the request of the artists themselves,” said Roy Masinton, local BLM manager. “They realize we may have to go into an EIS ultimately anyway, and getting into this earlier rather than later would probably save them both money and time.”

All expenses of the investigation are being paid for by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. A BLM-approved contractor, J.F. Sato of Denver, has worked on the proposed project for several years and is now working on the EIS.

“To date, we’ve been working on this for a number of years and it is in the neighborhood of $50,000,” Masinton said. “I expect the total cost to be several hundred thousand dollars, but this is a 100 percent reimbursable project.”

Masinton emphasized all comments received by the BLM during previous public scoping meetings have been incorporated into the new effort. New comments will be accepted until the end of the public comment period on July 19.

“If they have comments they believe to be substantial in nature, relative to the impact, they need to get us to them as soon as they can,” Masinton said. He asked the public to not wait until the deadline to submit comments.

Masinton said the BLM has already identified several issues and concerns with the project, including impacts on the environment, wildlife, traffic, public safety and emergency services response time.

The proposal and maps are available to view in the BLM office lobby, 3170 E. Main St., through July 21.

“The public will still have other opportunities to participate in the process as we get into impact analysis,” Masinton said.

The proposed “Over the River” project would hang fabric panels over segments totaling about 6.9 miles of a 40-mile stretch of the Arkansas River west of Cañon City. At the earliest, “Over the River” could be completed in August 2010.

Debbie Bell may be reached at dbell@ccdailyrecord.com

Artists field questions over project

source: Copyright © 2006 The Cañon City Daily Record

Artists field questions over project

Charlotte Burrous
The Daily Record

Several people voiced their opposition to the “Over the River” project, proposed by artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, in a meeting Wednesday at the Fremont Center for the Arts.

The artists plan to suspend shimmering fabric panels 10 to 23 feet above the Arkansas River for 6.7 miles on steel wire cables, which will be anchored along the upper banks between Cañon City and Salida.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude were joined by project manager Jonita Davenport and project engineer Vince Davenport to field questions on traffic, safety and the impact on the environment.

The Davenports said they come to Cañon City at least once a month to check on the project, but spend most of their time in Denver, where they work with an engineering firm in Littleton, which are completing a Natural Environment Protection Act study.

“We’re working on the NEPA, which is a long process,” Vince Davenport said. “Working with the BLM and all the agencies, the permitting process and working with the government entities is very slow some-times. We’re looking toward fall or winter before the NEPA process will be completed.”

The traffic management plan will be “a tough one,” Jonita said. “(A man named) Gunther wrote the traffic management report and plan for the Glenwood Canyon I-70 freeway project in the early 80s.

“This plan that he wrote received worldwide recognition. It won an award,” Jonita said. “It is used throughout the state of Colorado as a model plan.”

However, Dan Ainsworth, who is with the Tallahassee Fire Department, said he didn’t think the plan would work in the canyon between Cañon City and Salida.

“One of our biggest concern is the canyon is just so wide. It can only accommodate only so many people,” Ainsworth said. “If you have the number of people you expect to have, there’s no way that canyon is going to accommodate it, I don’t care how many traffic plans you have. You’re talking about thousands of peo-ple, thousands of cars, hundreds of buses everyday.”

Jonita said this has been a long ongoing process. “We’re in our eighth year now,” Jonita said. “This is a rural environment compared to an urban environment. Frankly, I don’t expect that many to come.”

Christo said they work with professionals, who work for the state and the county.

“That’s all going to be part of the plan before a permit is ever going to be given,” Jonita said.

Ainsworth told the artists that it “sounds like you going to do this come hell or high water.”

But Jonita said that wasn’t true.

“We’re never going to get a permit from any of these agencies if we don’t have an appropriate plan in place,” Jonita said.

Lynn Lucke Lutkin, Judi Bassani and Holly Pierce drove down from Fort Collins to greet Jeanne-Claude and Christo.

“In the 70s, Christo was a faculty affiliate of (Colorado State University),” Lutkin said. “Judi and Holly were art teachers in Fort Collins. A year later, I wrote to them to ask if we could plagiarize their art forms and we wrapped the Denver Capitol with children’s artwork from (students in) 135 districts around Colo-rado.”

Afterwards, the women sent the video they had made to Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who responded with signed artwork for each school district.

“I followed them ever since,” Lutkin said. “I went to New York to see ‘The Gates.’ I think they’re awe-some and we want to be a part of the ‘Over the River’ project.”

Cotopaxi resident and Rags Over the River group member Cathey Young said her concern was the work was “being done on faulty figures. We keep being told that 250,000 people are likely to come see the pro-ject.”

From past experience, each time Christo and Jeanne-Claude complete a project, the numbers of people continues to increase, Young said.

But Jonita said the agencies have studied the numbers.

“We don’t want to leave you out to dry,” she said. “We don’t want to ruin your community. We don’t want to cause problems in your valley. We want to bring you a gift. It’s very beautiful and it’s very temporary. We hope you’ll all agree. If you don’t, we’ll be gone.”

Ainsworth said he didn’t have anything against Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s art.

“It’s not fear that we are proposing, it’s concern,” he said. “It’s concern for the wildlife who habitat the canyon. It’s concern for the environment. It’s concern for the ecology of the canyon. It’s concern for all our lives, our health and our welfare.”

Christo said this is a common reaction.

“Wherever we go, people say, ‘we love your art, but not here,’ Christo said.

The artists also announced they would exhibit their original artwork from July 4 through Aug. 27 at Fremont Center for the Arts for the public to view.

Residents urge commissioners to say ‘no’ to Christo project

source: Copyright © 2006 The Cañon City Daily Record

Residents urge commissioners to say ‘no’ to Christo project

Debbie Bell
The Daily Record

Dan Ainsworth stands in the Howard Fire Department to address the Fremont County Commissioners on Wednesday night. The county representatives hosted the public forum to discuss current issues and receive input from local residents. More than 50 residents attended.
Debbie Bell/The Daily Record

HOWARD — Locally heavy snow did not deter area residents from turning out to voice their objections to the “Over the River” project Wednesday night at the Fremont County Commissioners forum.

After listening patiently to Commissioners Ed Norden and Larry Lasha review a host of other issues, speakers vocally protested the proposed Christo and Jeanne-Claude art project and urged the county to oppose the project at every turn.

Norden explained the approval process and emphasized no application has yet been filed with the county.

“I still think this is a long way out,” Norden said, “especially considering the sheer number of agencies involved. All of us have said we intend to maintain the integrity of that process. Everybody who has an opinion, whether it be for or against, will have the opportunity to be heard.”

Many of those attending wanted assurances from the commissioners that they would oppose the project, but the only guarantee they received from Norden was the promise to host a public hearing in the western end of the county and a guarantee that every question and opinion would be considered.

“We will bring a public hearing to District 3, which will be most impacted,” Norden said.

He said the commissioners would pay closer attention to those who would be directly impacted by the project than to outsiders, and would make a decision based on what was best for the county.

The impact on day-to-day living, including possible delays and the safety of area residents, was uppermost in speakers’ minds throughout the evening.

“Who will bear the liability if there is loss of life?” resident Phyllis Singer asked. “Because there will be.”

Finally switching topics, Norden, the moderator for the evening, briefly touched on the pay hike for county employees recently proposed in a state bill. He emphasized the issue is being considered by the state, not by the county, and said an increase in salary was the last thing the commissioners were seeking.

“We don’t need the distraction right now,” Norden said, pointing to the current budget crisis the county is facing.

In discussing Fremont County’s ongoing budget woes, Norden said the possibility exists to put the issue on the ballot to ask for additional funding.

“We may come to the voters this November to try to find a resolution,” Norden said. “The harsh reality is, we are worse off than we ever thought.”

Resident Henry Baker was vehemently opposed to any kind of tax increase.

“We have to cut our own budgets,” Baker said. “We can’t go out and ask somebody for more money. When people want services they have to pay for it. We have to tighten our belt. I think the county, state and federal ought to do their belts, too.”

Fremont County Sheriff Jim Beicker, whose department has been severely impacted by the budget crunch, he said his force has tightened its belt as much as possible. In fact, Beicker said he has been forced to cut coverage to the west end of Fremont County.

“It hasn’t been a big problem so far but I’m not satisfied. We need more coverage,” said Beicker. “We need more deputies.

“The cost of doing business has skyrocketed for us just like it has for you,” Beicker said.

Residents also were concerned about physical address issues that could affect the level of emergency response that residences receive. County code enforcement officer Robert Sapp was on hand Wednesday and said his office recently made changes to more than 50 western Fremont County addresses to bring them into conformity.

“There used to be six or eight people who assigned addresses,” Sapp said. “People had addresses that made no sense at all, and it was real hard for emergency responders to find you.

“Rural addressing is based on footages,” Sapp said. “Those numbers are actually very important.” He explained that the numeral part of an address tells emergency responders how far away a home is from a major road or highway.

The forum was one in a series hosted by the County Commissioners in an effort to take the issues into local communities in a convenient public format. Commissioner Mike Steihl was unable to attend.

Opponents of ‘Over the River’ speak out

source: Copyright © 2006 The Cañon City Daily Record

Opponents of ‘Over the River’ speak out

Charlotte Burrous
Daily Record Community Editor

Nadine and Gayle Ray, of Coaldale, peruse a map during an open house Wednesday in Cotopaxi. The map displays the route of the ‘Over the River’ project.
Daily Record photo by Charlotte Burrous

COTOPAXI — More than 200 people from Cotopaxi, Coaldale, Howard and Cañon City expressed sup-port and concerns at the “Over the River” open house meeting Wednesday in the Cotopaxi High School cafeteria.

Artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude hope to suspend shimmering fabric panels 10 to 23 feet above the Ar-kansas River for 6.7 miles on steel wire cables, which will be anchored along the upper banks between Cañon City and Salida.

Traffic, safety and the impact on the environment were a few of the concerns expressed by those opposed to the project, while others praised the artists for their imagination at the Bureau of Land Management-sponsored meeting.

Beth Fodor of Howard said she is “totally” against the project. As a nurse, she commutes to St. Thomas More Hospital three days a week and she is concerned about potential traffic issues.

“I will fight them tooth and toenail — whatever it takes,” Fodor said. “If it means tying it up in a federal court, I will work along with everyone else opposed to it to stop this project.”

Fodor said she does not want them altering her day-to-day activities.

“It’s going to change my lifestyle to accommodate an egomaniac — to feed his ego,” Fodor said.

Michael Kimmett of Salida and Marguarite Batson of Howard joined the group favoring the project.

“I don’t see where it’s going to be any problem,” Kimmett said. “They’ve done these things before in other areas.”

Batson expressed interest in the potential aesthetic appeal of the project.

“It’s going to be enjoyable to see,” Batson said. “I’m for it (because it will provide a) pathway through the pristine wildlife and pristine canyon that we’re never going to see again.”

Nadine and Gayle Ray of Coaldale said they are opposed to the project because the money could be used for other things.

“We can’t see any purpose in it,” Nadine said. “The beauty of this canyon as it is, how can it be improved upon? If this man and woman want to spend the money, why not build a community center for all the young children to enjoy?”

Nancy Lenderink opposes the project while her husband, Bill Lenderink supports the idea, but he is con-cerned about traffic.

“We live right on Highway 50 and (Bill) drives an ambulance for the volunteer fire department,” Nancy said. “I can’t see how this is going to help anything.”

In response, Christo said, “In Mozart’s sonata, it doesn’t mean anything. We just enjoy it.”

Christo said he would look into the safety issues concerning the fire department in Howard and the emer-gency response for the area.

Mikel Neuhalfen was passing through Cotopaxi when he learned Christo and Jeanne-Claude were in town for the open house.

“I’ve been following this from a distance,” Neuhalfen said. “I’m excited about the project.”

Donna Murphy of Cañon City also is in favor of the latest of many Christo and Jeanne-Claude projects.

“I went to see ‘The Gates’ in New York and it was a fabulous experience,” Murphy said. “If Colorado wants more tourism, this will bring international tourism for a long time. Right now it’s real divisive, but I think it will be community building.”

Marvin Eller, of Cañon City, worked as a state patrolman when Christo created the curtain at Rifle Gap.

“It will be a wonderful thing for Colorado,” Eller said. “Colorado is very fortunate to have (Christo) come back here a second time.”

The project will bring people to the state, which positively impacts the economy in Colorado, Eller said. As for traffic, he believes it will continue to increase whether the project comes to the canyon or not.

Project Launch

source: Copyright © 2006 The Cañon City Daily Record

Project Launch

Blakely Thomas-Aguilar
Daily Record Staff Writer

Artists Jeanne-Claude, left, and Christo visit with the public who attended the Bureau of Land Management’s Royal Gorge Field Office public comment Tuesday at the Holy Cross Abbey concerning the ‘Over the River’ project.
Daily Record photo by Tamara McCumber

The Holy Cross Abbey Events Center buzzed with questions and comments Tuesday night as interested people from all over the United States gathered to offer expressions of support and concern to artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude regarding the proposed “Over the River” project.

The “open house” meeting, organized and attended by the offices of the Bureau of Land Management, brought more than 200 people from Fremont County, Colorado Springs, Denver and even Chicago.

Ann Keil joined the crowd Tuesday from Colorado Springs and said she was part of a delegation from Colorado State University that joined the artists in Paris in 1985, where more than 300 workers helped wrap the Pont Neuf bridge in fabric. She said, like the majority of those in attendance, that she supported the artists’ proposal to drape fabric across the Arkansas River.

“I love art, and I wanted to see what this man and woman consider art,” Keil said.

The artists hope to drape transparent, fabric panels using steel wire cables across several areas on the Ar-kansas River from Cañon City to Salida for 14 days in 2009. Although the couple has proposed eight spe-cific locations for the 962 fabric panels, they have said they are willing to change the location based on the results of the federally mandated Environmental Assessment.

People mulled around tables allocated to various entities involved in the project, including recreation, socio-economics, emergency response, natural resources, engineering, wildlife, transportation and the artists themselves. Participants asked questions and gave comments to the officials.

As part of the Environmental Assessment, project manager Jonita Davenport said, the BLM will collect written comments and concerns from the public to determine the impacts, both physically and culturally, of the project. Although widespread support of the project was scattered throughout the gathering, most in attendance said they were withholding their final blessing until learning the results of the EA.

Cañon City transplant Linda Coffee moved to the area in 1999 and said she is refraining from making a final opinion until learning about all the potential impacts.

“I think the EA is important,” Coffee said. “But my opinion is pending because wildlife and traffic are real issues.”

Concerns have surfaced regarding the animal, bird and vegetation life on the banks of the river, but “life-long” Cañon City resident Donald Taton said life on the Arkansas has continued through multiple human interferences.

“What environment are we going to impact? The environment was torn up by the railroad. The environ-ment was torn up by the mines. The environment was torn up by the ranchers,” Taton said. “This is an opportunity for local businesses, like the buses who will help alleviate traffic.”

Cañon City resident Jay Bouton expressed the same belief that the living environment on the banks of the Arkansas has adapted to man-made interference. He said the planning shows that the artists have put in-depth thought into the project, but there are many public concerns still to be satisfied.

“It’s uncanny how much planning they put into this. The sheep were there before the road and railroad were, so the shade would be refreshing for them,” Bouton said. “There are certainly a lot of issues to be resolved.”

Steve Lukassen, who has lived on the edge of Cañon City since 1962, expressed concerns that the eco-nomic interests of the community were overshadowing many of the environmental and traffic issues caused by the project. He said he does not understand how the 14-day exhibition is anything more than an eco-nomic stunt by the artists and local businesses.

“It is an economic venture for the artist and community. Don’t call it art,” Lukassen said. “My biggest concern is traffic and anything that can be an impact on life and health of the community. My feeling is that it’s not art.”

CSU-Pueblo art instructor and Cañon City resident Liz Johnson, on the other hand, sees the project as a unique art exhibit that will allow artists and students to expand what they consider art from the more con-ventional definition.

“As an artist, I’m excited about it,” Johnson said. “I can’t wait to get my students involved and talking about it.”

Christo and Jeanne-Claude handled comments and questions from an ever-forming line Monday night, but they declined discussing opinions about the project. When Royal Gorge Bridge and Park general manager Mike Bandera informed them the project was discussed by Katie Couric on the “Today Show” on Monday morning, they smiled and accepted his comments without much of their own.

“We cannot have a favorite one. Like a father and mother, we love them all,” Jeanne- Claude said of their numerous projects across the world. “We are not here for positive and negative. We just did what BLM wanted us to do.”

Despite their hesitancy to interpret public opinion, a group of Chicago students freely dished out their unabashed support of the project. The eight secondary-level Montessori students visit the Cañon City area annually for skiing and rafting, and they said they look forward to riding down the Arkansas River under the translucent cover of the fabric.

“We’ve heard a lot about why it shouldn’t happen,” 13-year-old Caiton Brewster said before she sprawled on the floor to fill out her comment sheet. “I think it’s cool and it should be allowed to happen.”

Public comment forms are available at the Bureau of Land Management offices at 310 E. Main St. in Cañon City. All forms must be submitted by Feb. 10 to be included in the Environmental Assessment.

Friendly Supporters

source: Copyright © 2005 The Cañon City Daily Record

Friendly Supporters

David Young
Daily Record Staff Writer

Steve Reese is a member of the Friends Over the River group who are supporting Christo and Jean Claude’s proposed project, ‘Over the River,’ which could be in place 2009.
Daily Record photo by David Young

With the wide range of emotions regarding Christo’s “Over the River” project throughout the region and Colorado as a whole, a small group of Salida residents have come together to form a group to support the project called Friends Over the River.

“Over the River” is an art project conceived by world renowned artist Christo and his wife, Jean-Claude. Their most recent work was the “The Gates” in New York City’s Central Park, where they hung orange fabric from gates throughout the park.

The “Over the River” project consists of suspending fabric panels horizontally above the Arkansas River secured by wire anchors attached to the banks of the river.

The panels would be in place for two consecutive weeks between Salida and Cañon City, possibly as soon as the summer of 2009.

Christo is in the permit process of the project working with the Bureau of Land Management, Colorado State Parks, Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Federal Aviation Administration, Fremont County officials, Chaffee County officials, Cañon City officials and Salida officials.

The Friends Over the River group consits of four individuals, who share the same goals of wanting to bring the project to fruition and addressing any concerns pertaining to the issue.

“With the information and controversy, we are looking for supporters to try to obtain this in a positive manner,” said Friends Over the River member Steve Reese. “We are all just people who live in the valley, nothing more nothing less.”

For the program, bringing people together and solving their differences on this issue is what they are all about.

Reese said the project can’t succeed unless all aspects are taken care of, including those regarding emer-gency medical services to wildlife concerns. No one issue is more important than the other. Each one is equally important and must be resolved, Reese said.

Reese said he hopes more people will join the group and take the time to help in specific areas that they are concerned about, whether that be traffic or permits.

“Our group can’t make anything happen,” Reese said. “What we can do is support the project and provide information that the people who do decide can use to make decisions.”

Reese and the group supports the project because they believe it can be done without any lasting effects, and it will be a beautiful temporary work of art that people can come and enjoy.

In hopes of finding more people in support of the project like themselves, Friends Over the River is hosting a meeting at 6 p.m. Monday in the basement of Bongo Billy’s, 300 W. Sackett, in Salida.

Those wishing to help participate in the process of aiding the “Over the River” project are welcome.

City planning commission fills two seats

source: Copyright © 2005 The Cañon City Daily Record

City planning commission fills two seats

David Young
Daily Record Staff Writer

In a special city council meeting Wednesday night, two vacancies on the Cañon City planning commission were filled along with one of two seats on the board of adjustment.

Frank Speers was elected to the planning commission until July 1, 2008; Daryl Robinson was elected to the planning commission until July 1, 2006; and Diana Gilliam was elected to the board of adjustment.

With two positions open on the planning commission and two positions available on the board of adjustment, the council questioned the three candidates who applied for the positions and filled all but the alternate seat.

Gilliam, who is a residential real estate appraiser, said she enjoys being involved in the community and can bring knowledge to the position with her background.

Robinson is an architect who has lived in Colorado for 30 years and in Cañon for two. He said the position will lend him the opportunity to get involved in a different aspect of design, adding that he likes to partici-pate in the community and being a vital member.

Speers has been a realtor for the past 35 years and has seen growth that he can help manage. Speers said he is interested in getting more involved, because it is a “wonderful community.”

The council asked the candidates questions on topics varying from where they stand on growth paying for itself to Christo’s controversial art project “Over the River.”

Gilliam said she was unaware of certain issues when it came to the planning commission, and she has a lot to learn

“I don’t know the big picture, (we) have a huge learning curve to go,” Gilliam said in response to council-man Dan Brixey’s question about the pros and cons of growth.

Gilliam said she is “pro-development” and “pro- Christo,” and that the biggest challenge facing Cañon is growth. She said she would be open-minded and circumstances need to be assessed on an individual basis.

Robinson’s views also included staying “open-minded” and solving difficult problems.

“My skills are in problem solving,” Robinson said. “I find ways to solve things that are difficult or seem impossible in some cases.”

Robinson said policies give framework, definition and boundaries, but at the same time, human nature desires variance and change. He sees water as the biggest challenge facing Cañon City today and believes in growth paying for itself. Robinson said he is in favor of the “Over the River” project.

Former City Councilman Speers said he can use his prior knowledge and experience to contribute to the planning commission. Speers referred to the recent growth Cañon has seen and said it is important to maintain that growth.

“I’m in favor of pay as you go,” Speers said.

Speers said rules are made to be broken, and only through breaking rules can change occur. He is opposed to Christo’s project and said, “Canon City needs to be able to store water.”