Remembering Jeanne-Claude: Dreaming in Color
- Surrounded Islands/ Photo by Frank Beacham
We’re remembering Jeanne-Claude, wife and collaborator of the artist Christo, who died last week at 74. Together, they were responsible for one the most evocative art installations in South Florida’s history.
In 1983, before Art Basel Miami Beach or Wynwood were a blip on the radar, Christo and Jeanne-Claude saw in Biscayne Bay a massive canvas on which to reflect the “ways in which the people of Miami live, between land and water,” according to their artist statement.
“Surrounded Islands” wrapped 11 islands inside the bay in 6.5 million square feet of bright pink polypropylene fabric. It was a wonderfully pie-in-the-sky idea, all the more amazing because it required the cooperation of state, county, and city officials, marine biologists, ornithologists and engineers. It was up for just two weeks, and was fully financed by the artists.
“From November 1982 until April 1983, 6,500,000 square feet of woven polypropylene fabric were sewn at the rented Hialeah factory, into 79 different patterns to follow the contours of the 11 islands. A flotation strip was sewn in each seam. At the Opa Locka Blimp Hangar, the sewn sections were accordion folded to ease the unfurling on the water.” –from artist statement
Other Christo and Jeanne-Claude projects include “The Gates” in New York City’s Central Park (2005), “Wrapped Reichstag” in Berlin (1995), and “The Pont Neuf Wrapped” in Paris (1985). They collaborated so closely that one newspaper article mistook them for the same person.
Always wondered about the details of this work of art, but never found any details on the artist and enormous efforts in creating this unique art until now. I remember seeing these photos in magazines and books and never knowing who was behind this project. Great article, awesome project, hats off to the artists.