Douglas Sandberg, the inspiring artist who has his work displayed in the Crescendo this month, will have a closing reception this evening from 5:30-7pm followed by a talk at 7pm.
Douglas Sandberg has been a champion of the work of Christo and Jeanne-Claude since 1976, when the Running Fence Project was installed in Marin and Sonoma. He visited that project while a student at the California College of Arts and Crafts, and continued an interest in the artists work that is represented in the current show , “ Visions of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Projects “ at 142 Throckmorton Theater. Large format film images from “ THE UMBRELLAS – Project for USA and JAPAN – 1991 “ and “ THE GATES – Project for Central Park” – 1979, and digital images, from “ THE FLOATING PIERS – Project for Lago Iseo, Italy” 2016, and “ THE LONDON MASTABA – Project for Serpentine Lake – Hyde Park “ – 2018, make up the images in the exhibit.Mr. Sandberg believes that the works of Christo and Jeanne-Claude are perfect examples of the transformative power of Art. “ Where ever Christo went with a project idea, they have been met with resistance. But with a greater understanding of the project, of how the work enhances and improves the environment, peoples curiosity kicks in. And then, just like a flower, people come to enjoy the project and take it in. They even express displeasure in the fact that it will soon disappear. I find that transformation humorous, as it’s often the people who initially express the deepest displeasure who stand the most transfixed by the realized work”. “ You simply cannot deny the diplomatic and political effort it takes to stage these works. Plus the sheer creative and physical effort it takes Christo to create the hundreds of drawings and collages, used to finance the final project. That effort inspires me.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude once told a graduating class at CCA in San Francisco, “ That if you are not willing to work and think about your art, 24/7…then you should consider another profession “
