20–21 Christo and Jeanne-Claude RUNNING FENCE, SONOMA AND MARIN COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA, 1972–76 (Pg. 569)

Image retrieved from: Stokstad, M. & Cothren M. (Nov 2011). (Pg. 569). Art: A brief history, 5th edition.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude were environmental artists that met each other in Paris 1958. Their art usually consisted of a style called “wrapping” where they literally wrapped the object in cloth, usually very large objects like bridges and monuments. In the 1970s, they visited San Francisco, California and fell in love with the landscape of what is known as the North Bay. The couple decided to do a massive art piece consisting of nylon sheets spanning 24.5 miles, crossing two counties, Marin and Sonoma. The piece encompassed land and sea, rural and urban space (Christo, n.d.). The piece was not intended to have any deeper meaning, aside from what was visual represented, but the Fencebroke down many social barriers, as its construction comprised of people from many different walks of life. They called it “Running fence” and spend 42 months, despite resistance from local residents and politicians, erecting it. In 1976, the Fence was completed and stayed up for 14 days, before being torn down for an act of vandalism (Stokstad, 2011).

Image retrieved from: Sam Frankel. http://f indamuralist.com/california/mariposa/photos/frosty-acres-marin-county-21429
I grew up in a little town called Novato on the border of Marin and Sonoma County. I wasn’t alive when the “Running Fence” was created, but I remember hearing about it. I mostly heard it was considered vandalism, and I came to believe that large art pieces like that were considered bad according to social standards; eventually my beliefs would change. Growing up, we used to pass through a little town called Bel Marin Keys on our way to “The City” (San Francisco). While passing through, we always drove by this big mural of Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin, and Washington painted in van Gogh style on the side of a warehouse called Frosty Acres; later on a huge flowing American flag was painted on the other side. This mural was painted the same year the “Running Fence” was erected, 1976. One day, I remembered seeing graffiti on the mural. It upset me, but what upset me more was overhearing adults talking about it. They laughed and said, “Ironic, graffiti over graffiti.” I couldn’t put it into words then, but I was angry because they didn’t understand the fundamental values art embodies. Art isn’t just about self-gratification; it is about creating something with the idea of inspiring those around us. This piece inspired me to continue my dreams as an artist; it was also what interested me in van Gogh’s style. The last time I saw the mural was in 2000 on my way to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). I remember looking at, and a flood of happy memories filled my mind. I remember closing my eyes and thinking to myself, when I was done with the military I would return home and pursue my dream to become an artist. In 2004, I came home from war for two weeks, this is what I saw when we pass the mural.

Image retrieved from: Sam Frankel. http://findamuralist.com/california/mariposa/photos/frosty-acres-independent-journal-newspaper-article-2003-21952
Words cannot describe how I felt, but I will certainly try.
"What the hell happened to the ‘Frosty' mural?" I asked my friend.
"Some people cried about it not being constitutional,” my friend said.
"How could a mural with our founding fathers and a huge American flag be unconstitutional?” I asked.
"Oh,” my friend said. “You didn’t know that it is cool to hate America now?”
Once he said that I stared out the car window wordless and astonished. Is this what the people back home were doing while I was dodging BULLETS in war, protesting patriotism? My blood boiled, I was devastated, and I was hurt. I felt as if my dreams were shattered, not just because the mural was painted over because of some public outcry, but because something I held so dear was so easily destroyed. The feelings I had felt reciprocate my questions of purpose in the war in Iraq and my life in general. My friend and I both remained silent the rest of the ride home.
Needless to say, I didn’t give up or I wouldn’t be here today posting this story. Thank you for reading this and being a part of my dream.
References
Christo and Jeanne-Claude. (n.d). About. Retrieved from: http://christojeanneclaude.net/life-and-
Find Muralist, Sam Frankel. (n.d.). Frosty Acre’s Marin County. Retrieved from:
Find Muralist, Sam Frankel. (n.d.). Frosty Acre’s independent newspaper article. Retrieved from:
Stokstad, M. & Cothren M. (Nov 2011). Art: A brief history, 5th edition.
Pearson Learning Solutions. VitalBook file.