Salida Furnished by: Alvin Edlund E-mail: aedlund@chaffee.net
Internationally famous landscape fiber artists - Christo
and
Jeanne-Claude (they do not give out their last names) are planning on
doing some of their work on the Arkansas River between Salida and Canon
City. This work of unusual art is planned to be displayed along the
Arkansas River in the year 2003.
On Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998, Bulgarian-born artist Christo and his
French-born
wife, Jeanne Claude, both residents of New York met with Canon City
residents at a public meeting held at St. Scholastica Academy in Canon
City. The school and many of the students were wrapped in fabric or
blankets or sheets as a whimsical tribute to the artists. According to a
newspaper report by the Pueblo Chieftain and by a radio report by KVRH
radio in Salida, most of the people attending the public meeting seemed in
favor of the project.
Before the "Over the River" project can go forward, the couple must
obtain a Colorado State Parks special events permit, a Colorado Department
of Transportation permit, and approval from the Union Pacific Railroad
which has recently decided not to remove its tracks through the canyon.
These railroad tracks along the Arkansas River were originally owned by
the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad but in recent years it has
undergone mergers with the Missouri Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads.
Cost of the environmental assessment will be more than $200,000. A
bill the couple will pay themselves. The art work of colored fabric will
hang over different sections
of the river between Salida and Canon City.
You can read about it on the following
web page - Artsy’s
Christo page
While in Salida, I encourage you to take a walk through Old Town Salida.
Check their new website which describes this informative experience. Don't
miss it!
Salida - Buena Vista - Chaffee County