New Feature: Tag-o-Rama

Hi everyone... I've just added a new feature to the site called Tag-o-rama, and you can find it in the navigation column on the right side of the homepage, near the bottom of the column.

The idea behind the tag-o-rama is to promote the use of certain keywords, or "tags," related to the Christo Central Park project. Several popular Web tools, including Technorati (the blog search engine), del.icio.us (a public bookmarks organizer) and Flickr (a free photo blogging tool), incorporate tags into their design so that users of these tools can tag their blog entries, favorite websites and photos with relevant keywords.

The cool thing about tags is that you can use these online tools to see who else is employing the same tags. For example, if you look at the technorati tag for 'art' you'll see a list of all the blog entries from around the world that have been tagged with that word. Similarly, the del.icio.us tag for 'Christo' and the Flickr tag for 'central park' will display everyone's favorite URLs related to Christo and photos related to Central Park, respectively.

Why am I linking to these tags? Well, it's for two reasons. First, while I hope there will be lots of contributors to this blog, there will probably lots of people who don't contribute, but still end up using these online tools to tag their Gates-related content. This way, I can point site visitors to those tags and give them the opportunity to see how other people are covering The Gates in different ways. Second, I'm hoping that users of this blog who also happen to be users of Technorati, del.icio.us and Flickr will begin to use these same tags when they post content related to the event. That way, we'll be able to develop a meta-catalog of blogs, websites and photos from The Gates.

So when you get a chance, take a look at the Tag-o-rama and check out some of tags. And if you happen to be a user of Technorati, del.icio.us or Flickr, please tag your Gates-related content. Thanks! -andy

Demo & Instructions for Mobile Phone Users

This is a voicemail I posted from my mobile phone. As you can see, it worked just fine. Everyone who visits The Gates in Central Park is invited to post their own audio blog, or "podcast," from their mobile phone. It's easy:

1. Dial 1 - 661- 716 - BLOG (2564)

2. Enter the telephone login 212-555-1212

3. Enter the PIN code 2005, then the # key

4. Record your message, then hit the # key when your done

5. Press "1" to post your recording to the website

It's that easy! All voicemails posted to the site will be labeled as coming from "A Central Park Podcaster," so if you would like to identify yourself, please feel free to say your name and where you're from when you record your voicemail.

thanks,
andy

Watching The Gates from afar

I wish I could get to NYC to see The Gates, but I'll just have to experience it from here in San Francisco. Margot Adler did a piece on the project for NPR. The Boston Globe's Ideas section has an illustrated guide.


You might want to ask people to tag related articles and sites on href="http://del.icio.us/">del.icio.us with christo and put the
feed on this site.

del.icio.us/tag/christo

Hopefully the links above work.

Steve Rhodes

Eccentric, but Thought-Provoking

I don't understand why so many people are hostile to Christo. Yes, he's
eccentric and his work isn't exactly everyone's cup of tea, but his work
causes the public to talk more about what's art and what's not. And how
could that be a bad thing?

Admittedly, I don't quite get his obsession with wrapping public
monuments and buildings. But "The Gates" sounds like it will be quite
beautiful, particularly set against the backdrop of snow and leafless
trees....

Pre-Eminent Charletan of the Age

Ah the top art con man of the age strikes again.

Rich poser lauded by the mindless
sheep of mendacity.

It is so sad, yet still manages
to give me a laugh, how gullible
the court of the consumer court is.

Biliboo Marmaduke, the XXXXIV

Bases in the Snow, 1/29/05

A few pix I snapped yesterday of the bases in the snow. These were taken near
the 72nd Street entrance on the East Side. It looks as if the snow has been
cleared around each of the bases.

Simply a great project

I've seen the wrapped Reichstag in Berlin, Germany, and was looking
forward to the Central Park project ever since. Hope I can see as
many good pictures as possible. Just like in Berlin, city authorities
were most critical and opposed the project, and I hope that - just
like in Berlin - they will enjoy the final result. Christo's (and
Jeanne-Claude's) art gives you a new perspective to things. I'll have
to look at it from afar, but you only can really appreciate it when
you're there.

Alwin Ertl
currently Bavaria/Germany

Human Impact Study

New York Magazine, in the January 24, 2005 issue, notes: "The artists commissioned sociologist Kenneth Clark to study New Yorkers' attitudes toward the project. He interviewed 660 people and found, among other things, that The Gates was more popular among poor than among the rich." (http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/arts/features/10896/)

Interesting, if true. I'd like to read Clark's study for myself. I googled it, but couldn't find it. Wonder how he's defining "poor" and "rich" here?

~ jessie

Bases installed, photos from 1/8/05

These are some photos from the entrance to Central Park at 79th Street and 5th
Ave., just behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Terrific!

Terrific idea, can't wait to see The Gates unfurled!

~ Jessie

Jessie Daniels, Ph.D.
Adj. Asst. Prof. - Sociology & Urban Public Health
Project Director - Center for Community & Urban Health
HUNTER COLLEGE
425 E. 25th Street, 8th Floor, West
New York, NY 10010

http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/health/aidshp/

How to Post Your Comments and Photos to the Site

If you would like to post your thoughts about the Christo Central Park exhibit to the website, please send an email with your comments to this address:

yes-christo.gates @ blogger.com

(You'll have to remove the blank spaces before and after the "@" symbol. This is to discourage spam.)

Please put the title of your comments in the "subject" field of the email, and then your comments in the body of the email. Feel free to sign your email or post anonymously, whichever is more comfortable for you. Spam and off-topic posts will be removed immediately from the site.

You can also use these email addresses to post a photo to the website; simply attach a photo to your email, then put the title in the subject line and a description and photo credit in the message body. Please only send your own photos; do not send copyrighted material or other people's photos without their express permission. If you would like others to be able to use your photo, please feel free to make a note of it in the body of your email message. Thanks! -andy

lovely idea, y'all

What a splendid idea -- so conducive to building community and a sense of
excitement about this event. Just such a lovely idea; getting my camera
out now!

An adoring friend

Snowbound Trees

Trees surrounded by two feet of snow.



Actually, this is Boston, not NYC, but I posted it to test the email blogging tool.

Welcome to The Gates @ Central Park

Hi everyone,

This website is an experment in community art criticism. When Christo's The Gates opens in New York's Central Park in mid-February, the public will be invited to post their comments on the exhibit to this website. You'll be able to post your own blog entries via email as well as by phone. I'll post more information on the idea in the coming weeks.... -andy