Often overlooked by Christo’s supporters is that many of his projects have proven to be anything but “gentle disturbances.” Take, for example, Christo’s most recent project, Floating Piers, which opened earlier this month for a two-week exhibition period on Lake Iseo in Italy. The 1.9-mile walkway of 200,000 floating cubes covered in orange fabric has proved to be such a major attraction that it is wreaking havoc on local infrastructure as a result of Christo’s grossly inadequate visitation projections.
In its first five days, the area was besieged by more than 250,000 visitors, far exceeding the expectations of engineers. The extremely heavy crowds have created the need for local officials to set up blockades to limit access and stop train traffic headed to Lake Iseo.
La signora_Quarantanova were among the visitors two days after it opened, and yes we had to wait in an air-conditioned train car for half an hour before debarking in Iseo. It is indeed disappointing that the number of visitors exceeded the engineers' estimates, but they're engineers, not sociologists. I'd say "wreaking havoc on local infrastructure" is a bit overwrought. No one tore up the railroad tracks or jackhammered the roads or closed down the sewage treatment plant or experienced a power failure or was unable to get potable water. We had lunch (panini and prosecco) at a nice cafe on the island. When the project is removed in a couple of weeks, I doubt that anyone will ever be able to tell it was there.
This guy opposes Christo's Arkansas River project, perhaps for valid reasons. But to argue that "Wrapped Reichstag (1995) in Germany and The Gates (2005) in New York City, created intense social division among the local population" is Grade A bullshit, me thinks.
La signora_Quarantanova were among the visitors two days after it opened, and yes we had to wait in an air-conditioned train car for half an hour before debarking in Iseo. It is indeed disappointing that the number of visitors exceeded the engineers' estimates, but they're engineers, not sociologists. I'd say "wreaking havoc on local infrastructure" is a bit overwrought. No one tore up the railroad tracks or jackhammered the roads or closed down the sewage treatment plant or experienced a power failure or was unable to get potable water. We had lunch (panini and prosecco) at a nice cafe on the island. When the project is removed in a couple of weeks, I doubt that anyone will ever be able to tell it was there.
This guy opposes Christo's Arkansas River project, perhaps for valid reasons. But to argue that "Wrapped Reichstag (1995) in Germany and The Gates (2005) in New York City, created intense social division among the local population" is Grade A bullshit, me thinks.
It's so crowded, nobody goes to his exhibits?