The Gates Live
Today I am no longer an employee of Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Construction of The Gates is complete. Yesterday morning my team unfurled the fabric on the gates we constructed. We each took turns going down the line as a cheering throng surrounded us.
Our proximity to Columbus Circle explained the crowd, but it felt as if they were there for us.
All week as we built, people stopped to ask questions or to share their opinion. As we worked yesterday I talked to vistors from Germany, Austria, Denmark, and many other countries. They had all travelled for the singular purpose of seeing this monuental effort.
Somewhere, in some photo album somewhere, there is a picture of me on that historic day.
Although my photography of the project will not be here for a few more days, media coverage has been staggering. Please visit these links for more information.
The Gates, Central Park, New York, 1979-2005 - The New York Times Complete Coverage
Christo Does Central Park - NPR
Gates alive! - New York Daily News
Big Apple Gets The Big Orange - New York Post
Categories:
2 Comments
Leave a comment
Who is this guy?
Sam Felder is a web designer and occasional writer in Los Angeles, CA.
Born in Washington, DC, Sam and his family moved to Peoria, IL, where he grew up and went to school. He returned to DC in 2003 and left for the west coast in late 2005.
Find Me Elsewhere
Search
Categories
Recent Activity
Today
- Sam tweeted, "I don't think tonight's presidential debate could possibly have had less substance: http://tinyurl.com/6arb64" Sam tweeted, "I don't think tonight's presidential debate could possibly have had less substance: http://tinyurl.com/6arb64" Sam tweeted, "I don't think tonight's presidential debate could possibly have had less substance: http://tinyurl.com/6arb64" 2008-04-17T05:58:45Z 2008-04-17T05:58:45Z
- Sam is attending IxDA-SF Presents: Matt Jones, "Playfulness in Design" at odopod Sam is attending IxDA-SF Presents: Matt Jones, "Playfulness in Design" at odopod Sam is attending IxDA-SF Presents: Matt Jones, "Playfulness in Design" at odopod 2008-04-16T21:30:19Z 2008-04-16T21:30:19Z
- Sam tweeted, "slowly getting better at making espresso. still terrible at foaming soymilk..." Sam tweeted, "slowly getting better at making espresso. still terrible at foaming soymilk..." Sam tweeted, "slowly getting better at making espresso. still terrible at foaming soymilk..." 2008-04-16T18:00:06Z 2008-04-16T18:00:06Z
April 15
- Sam tweeted, "Glad that I filed my income tax last week. I had to pay but at least I don't have to spend today stressed out!" Sam tweeted, "Glad that I filed my income tax last week. I had to pay but at least I don't have to spend today stressed out!" Sam tweeted, "Glad that I filed my income tax last week. I had to pay but at least I don't have to spend today stressed out!" 2008-04-15T20:27:22Z 2008-04-15T20:27:22Z
- Sam tweeted, "OH: I think the future of dolls is..." Sam tweeted, "OH: I think the future of dolls is..." Sam tweeted, "OH: I think the future of dolls is..." 2008-04-15T19:32:26Z 2008-04-15T19:32:26Z
April 12
- Sam tweeted, "biking in SF makes me want terrain view in google maps on the iPhone. These hills are serious!" Sam tweeted, "biking in SF makes me want terrain view in google maps on the iPhone. These hills are serious!" Sam tweeted, "biking in SF makes me want terrain view in google maps on the iPhone. These hills are serious!" 2008-04-13T01:52:25Z 2008-04-13T01:52:25Z
- Sam tweeted, "every time I see an airplane gracefully take off I'm impressed that we can do that. It really is amazing!" Sam tweeted, "every time I see an airplane gracefully take off I'm impressed that we can do that. It really is amazing!" Sam tweeted, "every time I see an airplane gracefully take off I'm impressed that we can do that. It really is amazing!" 2008-04-12T21:20:09Z 2008-04-12T21:20:09Z
April 10
- Sam tweeted, "Making plans for a great weekend up in SF. The weather is going to be great and I plan to spend as much of it outside as possible." Sam tweeted, "Making plans for a great weekend up in SF. The weather is going to be great and I plan to spend as much of it outside as possible." Sam tweeted, "Making plans for a great weekend up in SF. The weather is going to be great and I plan to spend as much of it outside as possible." 2008-04-11T01:34:18Z 2008-04-11T01:34:18Z
- Sam tweeted, "Loving the new season of Radiolab http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/" Sam tweeted, "Loving the new season of Radiolab http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/" Sam tweeted, "Loving the new season of Radiolab http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/" 2008-04-10T22:57:53Z 2008-04-10T22:57:53Z
April 9
- Sam tweeted, "up late watching video from TED" Sam tweeted, "up late watching video from TED" Sam tweeted, "up late watching video from TED" 2008-04-10T07:35:16Z 2008-04-10T07:35:16Z
- Sam saved the link NewsVisual Sam saved the link NewsVisual Sam saved the link NewsVisual 2000-11-30T00:00:00Z 2008-04-10T03:17:20Z
April 7
- Sam tweeted, "Why does iTunes keep downloading partial podcasts? I don't want 18 minutes of This American Life. I want the full hour!" Sam tweeted, "Why does iTunes keep downloading partial podcasts? I don't want 18 minutes of This American Life. I want the full hour!" Sam tweeted, "Why does iTunes keep downloading partial podcasts? I don't want 18 minutes of This American Life. I want the full hour!" 2008-04-07T17:23:15Z 2008-04-07T17:23:15Z
April 4
- Sam saved the link Change We Can Believe In Sam saved the link Change We Can Believe In Sam saved the link Change We Can Believe In 2000-11-30T00:00:00Z 2008-04-04T16:49:16Z
- Sam shared ThinkFast: April 4, 2008 from Think Progress Sam shared ThinkFast: April 4, 2008 from Think Progress Sam shared ThinkFast: April 4, 2008 from Think Progress 2008-04-04T16:05:20Z 2008-04-04T16:05:20Z
April 3
- Sam saved the link City songbirds are changing their tune Sam saved the link City songbirds are changing their tune Sam saved the link City songbirds are changing their tune 2000-11-30T00:00:00Z 2008-04-03T17:18:57Z
- Sam tweeted, "I dreamt that it was suddenly May and I had forgotten to file my taxes. Is it a sign that I should stop procrastinating?" Sam tweeted, "I dreamt that it was suddenly May and I had forgotten to file my taxes. Is it a sign that I should stop procrastinating?" Sam tweeted, "I dreamt that it was suddenly May and I had forgotten to file my taxes. Is it a sign that I should stop procrastinating?" 2008-04-03T17:04:20Z 2008-04-03T17:04:20Z
April 2
- Sam is attending Street Hacks and Long Wows - An Evening with Chipchase, Burns, and Schauer at Adaptive Path Sam is attending Street Hacks and Long Wows - An Evening with Chipchase, Burns, and Schauer at Adaptive Path Sam is attending Street Hacks and Long Wows - An Evening with Chipchase, Burns, and Schauer at Adaptive Path 2008-04-03T07:23:27Z 2008-04-03T07:23:27Z

Sam--
I haven't got the list of contacts from Syd yet, but figured I could reach you this way. Any AU RI'ers out there who could talk about funding for rehabbing religious properties?
We made the CP circuit on Sunday, starting up at Harlem meer (quiet and hilly, you could hear the gates best up there) and working our way down to 59th St. The view from CPS 17th floor was awesome, but Christo and Jeanne-Claude were right: it's much better appreciated on the ground. I hope you get a chance for a return trip later this month. Go gates!
sarah
Hi Sam! I am heading up to the Gates on Saturday with my better half (my mother) and we want to big up your section. Did you carve anything into a pole, Sam Was Here? All that saffron is vaguely alarming for me, as it reminds me of election time in India when saffron and free stuff meant anti-Muslim circuses. Anyway, thanks for your help so we can play in public art. The City needs something to keep it humble.
Cheers,
A - (leen)