JANUARY 16, 2005 --

LPR, led into Central Park, last Saturday, wth Shana, noticed gray slabs with orange plastic … slab-ends? -- along the walkways. Some kind of post-modern sculpture? Not precisely.

The accompanying four photos show a work very much in progress: installation of The Gates, the massive public space artwork by Christo and Jeanne Claude to be unfurled on February 12 and remain in place for 16 days -- 7500 saffron-colored gates made of nylon, covering the 23 miles of walkways in Central Park.

LPR expects that the Gates when displayed will draw considerable media attention.

This is a 20 million dollar project that -- like the Bush inaugural costing twice as much -- does not involve government funds, but could not happen without
approval of top officials in government.

A description of the project that LPR found by googling "Christo Central Park 2005," says that for people on the
park's paths, "The Gates will be a golden ceiling."

From surrounding buildings, "The Gates will seem like a golden river …" The description continues: "The 16 day duration work of art, free to all, will be
a long-to-be-remembered joyous experience for every New Yorker, as a democratic expression…"

Was this project put to the people for joyous approval by vote? Apparently it was approved with just one vote needed
for passage -- the Finemeister's.

LPR wonders how much revenue City Hall will joyously receive in parking fines from visitors who come to see the golden ceiling-river.

In the event of a blizzard, The Gates will help people keep to the walkways and not trod atop the Central Park soil.

Unless, of course, people will be barred from the park to make sure that, in event of a blizzard, The Gates don't become The Shrouds.