Item Detail

Christo and Jeanne-Claude have created some of the most visually breathtaking works of the 20th century. From early wrapped objects to monumental outdoor projects such as The Umbrellas Japan-U.S.A., 1984-91 and Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin, 1971-95, the Christos have used fabric -- wrapped, draped, and folded over, around, and through natural and constructed forms -- to transcend the traditional boundaries of painting, drawing, sculpture, and architecture.

This stunning volume spanning the Christos' remarkable 40-year career accompanies an exhibition at the National Gallery of Art of works from the collection of Dorothy and Herbert Vogel, whose relationship with the artists dates to 1971. The wonderful breadth of works presented in color and discussed here include several early packages, preparatory drawings, models for large-scale public works in urban and rural sites, and photographs of the completed projects.

However, these later projects are included in the suitable companion publication Christo and Jeanne-Claude in the Vogel Collection, which serves as the catalog for an exhibition at the National Gallery of Art this spring. Curator Donovan does an exemplary job of setting works from the gallery's Vogel collection in the context of the couple's entire oeuvre. The catalog (one of the largest to cover the full career of the artists) includes color photographs of their works, interviews with the artists, reproductions of plans and drawings, an extensive exhibition chronology, and a bibliography. Both books are recommended for larger collections of contemporary art. Martin R. Kalfatovic, Smithsonian Inst. Libs., Washington, DC Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.