If Christo's controversial "Over the River" sinks, it will be a tragedy

I've always thought it was interesting, in light of the conceptual realm in which Christo operates, that his drawing style is so traditional. What makes it not old-fashioned, though, are the written directions and topographic documents, among other mixed materials, that are employed to clearly express his ideas about the project.

A number of the pieces include small strips or samples of the proposed fabric that will be suspended over the river. It is roughly woven, à la hopsack or burlap, but is done in a silvery synthetic fabric. I didn't realize until I looked at some of the drawings at the MCA that the open weave of the fabric would allow it to become virtually transparent from underneath so that the view would be of the sky visible through the sunscreen. From the outside, though, from the highway view, the screens would appear as solid sheets, with the sun bouncing off the silver color.

"Over the River," by Christo, mixed media.

Details

Through January 16, at MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany Street, 303-298-7554, www.mcadenver.org.

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More About

• Wolfgang Volz
• Salida
• Nora Burnett Abrams
• MCA Denver
• Central Park (New York)

The MCA show proves that "Over the River" would be an internationally significant art event if it happened. It would also be Christo's first piece since Jeanne-Claude died. And I fear, as Christo himself is getting along in years — and these kinds of projects eat up time — that it will be his last. Christo is currently involved in the permitting process, and his right to do "Over the River" has not yet been granted by the various powers that be, including the federal Bureau of Land Management, which could put a halt to the whole thing early next year.

Many of those who oppose "Over the River" have legitimate concerns about wildlife and about crowding in the area during the time the piece will actually be up, but most of the opposition is made up of people who simply don't like art in general, and Christo in particular. In the discussions of "Over the River," Christo has frequently been branded an egomaniac, and that might be true. But another part of the Christo story is his altruism: "Over the River" will be free and open to the public for its enjoyment, just as all of his other environmental pieces have been. It will be a genuine tragedy for all of us in Colorado if the haters win and "Over the River" never happens.