Christo
Running Fence Reels - 85
min. 1976 to 2011
The artists known as Christo and Jeanne-Claude along with a hired crew
of enthusiastic local assistants erected a major early work spanning
both Sonoma and Marin counties in Northern California. "Running
Fence", the culmination of 42 months of collaborative efforts,
was 24.5 miles long and 18 feet high, with one end dropping down to
the Pacific Ocean.
This monumental temporary artwork was made of 240,000
square yards of heavy woven white nylon fabric, 90 miles of steel cable,
2,050 steel poles, 350,000 hooks, and 13,000 earth anchors. Paid for
entirely by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, the completed Running Fence existed
for only two weeks in September of 1976. The materials were then given
to the local ranchers whose properties had generously provided the site.
In 1976 a Vietnam veteran named Charlie Collins came to the Sonoma State
Art Department where I was teaching filmmaking and offered the services
of his home-built helicopter to gain unique access to the soon to be
completed Running Fence project that was all the buzz in the community.
With the help of my film students Gregg Fautley and Donna Page we set
out to film every aspect with our 16mm cameras. The footage, containing
many beautiful and rarely seen images, remained incomplete for many
years, and now has finally found a form such that this valuable glimpse
of history can be more widely shared.