[p] Christo

The first time I met Christo, he smiled deeply, bowed, and energetically exclaimed, “AHDAHM, SO nice to meet you!” It was love at first sight...I was awed by his humanity and energy. I carried this wonder with me over the next 16 years, no matter if the situations we were in together were euphoric, anguishing, or chaotic. When around someone who has tapped so completely into their genius, there is the threat of feeling inferior, of feeling less than. Yet, this was not something you felt around Christo. The life font that he tapped into was universal and inextinguishable...and luckily for us, he had the ability to make it tangible. We all basked in the magic for a brief time. We lost Christo yesterday, and yet, like all love and life, his will continue to multiply and grow in some form.

In Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s eyes, art was a pure expression of creativity, joy, beauty, and love. Art was not an illustration of life, it was life itself. While some people tried to understand or translate the “meanings” of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s work, the majority of people simply worked, laughed, proposed, argued, made love, exercised, sang, walked, experienced, and lived with the art. The work strengthened and created community, friendship, and family. It was fleeting, amplifying the temporality of life itself. Upon completion of the projects, you were left to wonder, to reflect, and to let the experience and relationships enrich and grow in you.

His life and art was radical and beautiful, if only because he was able to realize the magic of human’s potential. He craved and revelled in art’s boundless freedom (in the world of the arts, boundaries are self-imposed; Christo, having none, was a force).

Christo (and Jeanne-Claude, now gone over 10 years) never accepted money for their temporary works of art, instead opting to sell preparatory studies and early works to pay for the realized projects.

He didn’t teach; instead he provoked wonder, curiosity, and exploration.

He didn’t lecture; he made preludes for a conversation (his presentations were town hall or Q&A-based, and would last as long as the crowd had questions).

He never sat on judging panels (“Who am I to judge other people’s art?” he would ask); instead, he personally encouraged or bought the work of countless artists.

He didn’t have a gallerist or representation; he represented himself.

He didn’t have an assistant (he drew, painted, sculpted, built, and framed his own studio work); instead, he had a “working family” that acted together to realize the next work in progress.

He never steamrolled; he researched, listened, and mitigated.

He never backed down; he constantly pushed forward.

He didn’t stop creating art.

In all his 84 years, he didn’t stop living, until yesterday.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s model and role in the 20th and 21st century is immeasurably powerful and impactful. Instead of an intoxication with status, money, and the market, they were driven by joy, beauty, and the public. Their lives have opened eyes and shown us the sublime. Their legacy will ultimately be a celebration of joy, community, and a true love of life. My love to the family, the working family, and to the communities he impacted.

One parting note: Christo called me on my birthday in late April and heartily sang “Happy Birthday to You,” as he has done every year. We then spoke and checked in on each other, trying to process the immensity of the world’s current situation. Finally, we sent our love to each other and said goodbye. I didn’t know it would be my last time talking with my friend. Since I didn’t get a chance to say the long goodbye then, I’ll just end with “CHRISTO, SO nice to have known you!”