It's not rocket science

February 16, 2005 2:34 PM

Christo, you've got competition, baby. "Often Hargo's The Somerville Gates has been compared with Christo's The Gates, Central Park, New York City. These comparisons have been unfair; sometimes the media has exaggerated -- even lied -- about the similarities. The differences, however, are many."
posted by nyterrant (17 comments total)

Thanks! I was bummed about not getting up to NYC to see Christo's, but this is even better.
posted by JoanArkham at 2:42 PM on February 16, 2005

Viewing period: until the cleaning lady comes

That's just poignant.
posted by Turtle at 2:47 PM on February 16, 2005

Best post of the day.
posted by ParisParamus at 3:09 PM on February 16, 2005

I'm near Sommerville -- I understand I don't need a ticket, but can I just walk through the Sommerville Gates whenever I want, or do you think I need an invitation?
posted by blahblahblah at 3:17 PM on February 16, 2005

"To all visitors of The Somerville Gates:
There are no official opening events.
There are no invitations.
There are no tickets.
This work of art is FREE and for all to enjoy,
the same as all of our previous projects.
If anyone tries to sell you a ticket,
do not buy it. This would be an act of
fraud because no tickets are needed"

I think you can only admire from afar. That makes it more exclusive and, therefore, better. This is art.
posted by jheiz at 3:27 PM on February 16, 2005

We went and saw the Christo Gates yesterday. I'm glad we didn't walk all the way to the end, though, because if it's like this one I think the giant cat would have been pretty scary.
posted by Songdog at 3:29 PM on February 16, 2005

Beautiful post. Goofing art with art. Frankly, I'm tired of Christo showing me how big his dick is all the time - he is no genius and really, has become the blue dog of fabric artists.

I think this installation better shows the struggle between art and nature. Are the gates hindering the cats inevitable meeting with it's food bowl or are they in fact, a dramatic archway designed to elevate the event of dinner? Why is the cat unfazed by this saffron 'affront'? Was the orange cat intentional? So much to ponder.
posted by j.p. Hung at 4:22 PM on February 16, 2005

posted by spock at 4:26 PM on February 16, 2005

jheiz, just about that exact same quote appears on Christo's site for the Central Park gates.
posted by LionIndex at 5:50 PM on February 16, 2005

I was in Berlin in '95 when Christo wrapped the Reichstag, and it was really quite amazing to see a building that size covered with silver nylon-weave material. People came from all over Europe--and I imagine the world--to check it out. I remember a guy standing there with a sign and a long speech for anyone who cared to here it. The sign said "Dies ist kein Kunstwerk". This is not art.

I've only seen pictures, but these gates look rather boring in comparison.

/ducks
posted by zardoz at 6:01 PM on February 16, 2005

Thanks, this is almost as good as Fushimi Inari, where Christo doesn't say he stole his 'inspiration' from...
posted by ronin21 at 6:17 PM on February 16, 2005

Finally saw the gates this morning, and I'd say it's damn well worth it. It's no Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, but come on, you've gotta compartmentalize your experiences.
posted by fungible at 8:42 AM on February 17, 2005

I posit: There is nothing funnier than the back of a cat's head.
posted by dontoine at 7:30 PM on February 17, 2005

Here's another parody "The Crackers."
posted by gleenyc at 5:45 AM on February 19, 2005

With $3.50 and a Dream, the 'Anti-Christo' Is Born
Geoff Hargadon installed his miniature artwork "The Somerville Gates" in his Massachusetts home and posted photos of it on a Web site. Within 24 hours, the site had 99,000 hits. [New York Times | February 19, 2005]
posted by ericb at 4:46 PM on February 19, 2005

Update - the cleaning lady came.

In today's Boston Globe, Hargo and his gates are feted by the Mayor of Somerville, and we learn that he had to take the pictures down after the site got 4 million hits.
posted by yhbc at 5:19 AM on February 25, 2005

Another spoof: Bill Gates changes his name to 'The Gates'.
posted by humannature at 7:54 PM on February 25, 2005