Journeys›Photograph

A Winter Day Walking Through The Gates in Central Park

·Central Park·#winter#public-art#new-york-city#central-park#the-gates
Bright orange fabric panels on frames stand among dark trees with a lamppost in the foreground.

In mid-February 2005, I went to see Christo and Jeanne-Claude's public art installation, *The Gates*, in Central Park. It was a cold but clear winter day, which made the bright saffron color of the fabric panels stand out against the bare trees and muted landscape.

The installation followed the park's winding pathways for miles. Each gate was a simple rectangular structure, but seeing thousands of them lined up, snaking over hills and alongside the grey rock outcroppings, was impressive. The city's architecture was always there in the background, framing the views through the trees.

As I walked, the light changed how the fabric looked. Sometimes it was backlit and glowing, and other times the sun hit it directly, making the orange incredibly vibrant against the blue sky. The wind would occasionally catch the fabric panels, causing them to ripple. It was a simple thing, just walking through the park, but the installation transformed the familiar space into something completely different for a couple of weeks.

Orange fabric panels line a paved park path with bare trees, distant buildings, and a lamppost.Multiple bright orange fabric panels stand on frames in a park with bare trees and distant buildings.Numerous saffron-colored fabric gates stretch through a park with bare trees and a distant building, with people walking among them.Orange fabric panels line a path in a park with a lamppost and bare trees.Orange fabric panels hang between orange frames along a park path with bare trees under a clear blue sky.Orange fabric gates line a path through a park with bare trees, large rock formations, and distant city buildings.Orange fabric panels hang above a walkway with people strolling beneath orange support poles in a park.Orange fabric gates line a paved park path with bare trees and distant buildings, a person walks a dog.

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