The Gates exhibit was an art installation project created by European artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. It saw millions of visitors in its run from February 12-27 and drew an estimated $254 million in revenue for New York City. The project, which cost $21 million, was paid for completely by the artists. It was conceived 26 years ago, when Central Park was in a state of disrepair.
The gates which make up The Gates were made of recyclable saffron fabric and ran along many paths of Central Park. The curtains were designed to present interesting possibilities and invoke discussion.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, whose past projects include wrapping the Reichstag in Berlin in silvery fabric, are now working on a plan to suspend several miles of cloth over the Arkansas River in Colorado.
Photos Courtesy Timothy Rezendes