Christo Art Project Facing Lawsuit

Flamboyant artist, Christo, is facing serious opposition to his new proposed art project. Environmentalists, outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife advocates have taken the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Denver to court over Christo’s new project entitled ‘Over the River’ would involve draping fabric canopies along a long stretch of the Arkansas River in Colorado, specifically 5.9 miles of “silvery, translucent” panels between Canon City and Salida, Colorado.

The lawsuit states that:

“Installing the anchor bolts and other hardware requires large drilling equipment normally used for mining and heavy construction activities. The art project is, in fact, more similar to mineral resource extraction and development than recreation.”

Rags Over the Arkansas River Inc. (ROAR) spokesman, Joan Anzelmo, also added to the argument, saying:

“ROAR is aiming its slingshot directly at the Goliath Over the River project and at the Bureau of Land Management that gave the go-ahead despite its federal stewardship responsibilities for public lands, water and wildlife.”

The lawsuit and environmentalists are particularly worried about how Christo’s art project could impact on bighorn sheep.

“The (project) will increase the bighorn sheep’s susceptibility to disease, disperse sheep from their primary habitat along the Arkansas River, and will likely increase the mortality rate in young lambs.”

The project will cost $50 million and will draw 400,000 visitors. But ROAR are determined to prove that the art project will get in the way of natural beauty. Ellen Bauder, the vice president for science at ROAR said:

“Coloradans are not New Yorkers — they come to the mountains for scenery, wildlife, recreation and peace and quiet. Bumper-to-bumper traffic, stoplights in the middle of nowhere and long lines are not their idea of recreation, and no amount of public relations is going to make it so.”

What do you make of Christo’s art project? Interesting art project or potential environmental disaster?

Source: Reuters & The New York Times