Marine Biological Laboratory

Falmouth Forum Series 2009-2010

Jeanne-Claude and Christo
Photo by Wolfgang Volz

Please Note: Jeanne-Claude, 74, American artist and resident of New York City, died suddenly November 18, 2009 as a result of complications due to a ruptured brain aneurysm.

Christo is deeply saddened by the passing of his wife, partner and collaborator and is committed to honor the promise they made to each other many years ago: The art of Christo and Jeanne-Claude will continue.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude met in Paris, France in November, 1958, sharing the same date of birth and had worked together for 51 years creating temporary works of art.

"Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Two Works in Progress: Over the River, Project for the Arkansas River, Colorado; The Mastaba, Project for The United Arab Emirates"

January 22, 2010 - Lillie Auditorium, 7:30 PM
Lecture tickets are free, but required for this lecture. Tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

Christo

Read the Press Release

Lecture Abstract
Over The River is a two-week temporary work of art to be created by artists Christo. The artist will suspend horizontally a total of 5.9 miles of silvery, luminous fabric panels high above the Arkansas River along a 40-mile stretch of the river between Salida and Cañon City in south-central Colorado. Fabric panels will be suspended at eight distinct areas of the river that have been selected by the artists for their aesthetic merits and technical viability.

The Mastaba: Project for The United Arab Emirates will be a work of art made of approximately 410,000 horizontally stacked oil barrels. Hundreds of bright colors, as enchanting as Islamic mosaics, will give a constantly changing visual experience according to the time of the day and the quality of the light.

The Mastaba, a work of art whose only purpose is to be itself, will be situated on a slightly rising plain to allow visitors the full impact of the uniqueness of this monument, as they approach by foot, automobile, or by air.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude are a married couple who have created highly celebrated works of art across the globe for more than 40 years. They have a son, Cyril, born in 1960, married to Marie Wilkinson, and a grandson, Lysander, born in 2005. Christo and Jeanne-Claude are a unique, dynamic, creative team who together have changed the concept of "public art" by creating works that are truly transitory by design. The artists' goal is to create works of art of joy and beauty, for which they pay themselves, without charging any viewing fees.

For more information, visit the artists' website: http://www.christojeanneclaude.net.

Admission to this Falmouth Forum presentation is free and open to the public. A buffet dinner is available before the lecture at 6:00 p.m. in the Swope Center located near the auditorium. Dinner tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance at either Eight Cousins Children’s Books, Main Street, Falmouth, or at the MBL’s Communications Office in the Candle House in Woods Hole. Dinner seats are limited and tickets are only available until they sell out or until 5:00 on the Tuesday before the lecture. For more information, contact the MBL Communications Office at: (508) 289-7423 or